Department for Work and Pensions

Statutory Sick Pay: Small Businesses

Michelle Donelan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the capacity of small businesses to pay statutory sick pay for up to 28 weeks.

Penny Mordaunt: It is important that employers are responsible for providing employees with a measure of income replacement when they are unable to work rather than the cost falling to the tax-payer through the State benefits system.Before introducing regulations that affect small businesses, all Departments are required to consult with them. This includes an assessment of the likely costs of complying with the change and enables unnecessary burdens to be identified before decisions are made on whether to proceed.The Government recognises the challenges that are faced by employers and that there isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ solution on the health and work agenda. On Monday 31st October the Government published “Improving Lives, the Work, Health and Disability Green Paper”. This starts a consultation that will run until 17th February 2017.We will use the Green Paper as an opportunity to understand how best we can help employers of all sizes take action on a range of areas. This includes seeking views on whether Statutory Sick Pay should be reformed to encourage supportive conversations between the employer and employee and make it easier for people to have a phased return to work. Any proposals for change following consultation will include an assessment of the impact on business.

Personal Independence Payment: Appeals

Phil Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many mandatory reconsiderations for personal independence payment claims have been (a) submitted and (b) successful in each year from April 2013 to October 2016.

Penny Mordaunt: These figures are published online and the latest version can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/personal-independence-payment-april-2013-to-july-2016. Table 7A in “Personal Independence Payment: Official Statistics to July 2016” gives the number of requests for a reconsideration submitted; Table 7B includes the number where the original decision was changed. These figures run until July 2016. However, they are published on a regular basis and statistics for August to October will become available in due course.

Personal Independence Payment

Phil Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many personal independence payment applications were received between April 2015 and October 2016.

Penny Mordaunt: Data on the number of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims received, on a monthly basis since PIP was introduced in April 2013, is regularly published and is available using Stat-Xplore: www.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk. The latest available data is to the end of July 2016. The PIP statistics will next be updated on 14 December with data to the end of October 2016.

Personal Independence Payment: Appeals

Phil Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average time taken has been for a decision to be made on a (a) personal independence payment (PIP) and (b) mandatory reconsideration for PIP from the date his Department receives the relevant documentation from the claimant in each year from the introduction of that process.

Penny Mordaunt: Average clearance times for Personal Independence Payments are published online on a quarterly basis. The latest version can be found athttps://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/personal-independence-payment-april-2013-to-july-2016.Table 5A of “Personal Independence Payment: Official Statistics to July 2016” gives clearance times for Normal Rules claims broken down by month and by the stage of the claims process.The average time taken for a Mandatory Reconsideration is not available and can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Employment: EU Grants and Loans

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effect of losing the European Social Fund on the provision of employment support; and what plans the Government has to replace the funding from that Fund.

Damian Hinds: Following the Chancellor’s announcement in August, which guaranteed funds for projects signed up until the Autumn Statement, the Chancellor has confirmed that the government will guarantee EU funding for structural and investment fund projects, signed after the Autumn Statement and which continue after we have left the EU.Funding for projects will be honoured by the government, if they are good value for money and are in line with domestic strategic priorities.This means that the implementation of the European Social Fund Programme continues, notably with the preparation of calls, appraisal of applications, signing of funding agreements, payment of claims, verification of claims, and audits.There is considerable stability in the ESF programme, with around half of the programme budget (approx. £1.2bn) already committed and delivery spanning across the programming period. The announcement means that British organisations have additional certainty over future funding and should continue to apply for EU funding while the UK remains a member of the EU.

Chemical Engineering: Standardisation

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how compliance with the UN Global Harmonised System of classifying and labelling chemical processes will be regulated after the UK leaves the EU.

Penny Mordaunt: The UN Globally Harmonised System for the classification and labelling of hazardous chemicals (GHS) is a voluntary agreement and does not itself have legal force. Presently it is given legal effect in the UK by the directly acting European Regulation (No.1272/2008) on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures – the CLP Regulation.The Health and Safety Executive is working closely with the Department for Exiting the European Union to understand the impacts that withdrawal from the EU will have on businesses, consumers and other economic actors. Only once that analysis is complete will we be able to take an informed decision on what is best for the UK and that includes looking at options for maintaining consistency with the GHS.

Social Security Benefits

Ms Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which local authorities plan to roll-out the lower benefit cap for newly-affected claimants from the week commencing (a) 7 November 2016, (b) 14 November 2016, (c) 21 November 2016, (d) 28 November 2016, (e) 5 December 2016, (f) 12 December 2016, (g) 19 December 2016, (h) 26 December 2016, (i) 2 January 2017, (j) 9 January 2017, (k) 16 January 2017 and (l) 23 January 2017.

Caroline Nokes: This information will be placed in the House of Commons Library.

Social Security Benefits: Greater London

Ms Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of claimants affected by the lower benefit cap in (a) Westminster City Council and (b) the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea are in receipt of (i) jobseeker's allowance, (ii) employment and support allowance and (iii) income support.

Caroline Nokes: The information is provided in the table below. Estimated breakdown of households affected by the lower cap levels by benefit receipt, 2016/17, GBBenefit ReceivedProportion of Capped HouseholdsWestminster City CouncilRoyal Borough of Kensington and ChelseaEmployment and Support Allowance34%31%Income Support25%27%Jobseeker's Allowance28%27%Other13%15%Total100%100% Notes:Figures may not sum due to rounding.Estimates assume no behavioural responses - any behavioural responses to the lower cap, such as claimants moving into employment, would cause the number of households affected to reduce and may change the proportional split.The methodology used to estimate the households affected by the cap is consistent with that described in the latest impact assessment published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/welfare-reform-and-work-act-impact-assessment-for-the-benefit-cap

Children: Maintenance

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many notices of finalised Child Support Agency (CSA) arrears have been sent to parents with care whose CSA liability has ended in each month since March 2016.

Caroline Nokes: The table below shows the number of Child Support Agency arrears letters sent to parents with care in each month since March 2016. MonthMar-16Apr-16May-16Jun-16Jul-16Aug-16Sep-16Arrears Letters sent to parents with care20,4208,91011,22013,28014,27013,75011,090 NoteFigures have been rounded to the nearest 10.The figures do not include any letters that have been sent manually as we do not keep clerical management information on the number of manual letters sent.Volumes dropped between March 2016 and subsequent months because the activity was more resource intensive than we originally expected.

Children: Maintenance

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Child Support Agency cases have been referred for arrears cleansing in each month since March 2016.

Caroline Nokes: The table below shows the number of cases referred for arrears cleansing in each month since March 2016. Month Mar-2016Apr-2016May-2016Jun-2016Jul-2016Aug-2016Sep-2016Number of cases referred for arrears cleansing 29,82018,93023,98014,89014,66023,45019,920   Notes: Figures rounded to nearest 10.

Children: Maintenance

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what amount of former Child Support Agency arrears has been written off at the parent with care's request since the end of March 2016.

Caroline Nokes: Between 1st April 2016 and 30th September 2016 £25.7m of CSA arrears were written off at the parent with care’s request.

Children: Maintenance

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, by what amount the total of Child Support Agency (CSA) maintenance arrears held on CSA IT systems has been reduced since January 2015 as a result of cases selected on a proactive or reactive basis for case closure.

Caroline Nokes: The information is not collated centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Social Security Benefits

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many applications were made for short-term benefit advance and hardship payments in the last 12 months; and what proportion of such applications were successful.

Damian Hinds: The information requested in relation to Short Term Benefit Advance (STBA) is shown in the following table. October 2015 - September 2016STBA Applications Received202,083STBA Primary Benefit Paid - (where the primary benefit has been paid negating the need for STBA)47,114STBA Referred for Decision101,600STBA Awarded98,826% STBA Awarded against those Referred for Decision97.3%For context we have also supplied the number of claims which have been referred for decision and those which have not been submitted for decision due to primary benefit being paid.Notes:STBA Applications Received cannot be calculated using the totals of Primary Benefit Paid and Referred for Decision due to other categories being included that are not shown. Only Working Age Benefits (i.e. ESA, IB, JSA and IS) are included in the above information for benefit advance applications as the number of applications received for State Pension Credit and Carer’s Allowance is not available. Source:STBA Applications Received, Primary Benefits Paid & Referred for Decison - Management Information System Programme (MISP). This collation is based on clerical counts submitted by the each Centre and is Internal MI which has been agreed for use in publications of Parliamentary questions and Freedom of Information requests.STBA Awarded - Benefit Expenditure Business Information system  The information requested in relation to hardship applications and awards is shown in the table below. April 2015 – March 2016Hardship Applications Received138,300Hardship Awards Made123,200 Notes:The tables show the total number of JSA and ESA hardship applications received and the number of awards made in the period from 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016. These figures show applications and awards rather than the number of individuals; individuals may have made more than one application and received more than one award.Data has been given to March 2016 to align to the date of latest published information on ESA and JSA sanctions.It is not possible to state the proportion of applications that were or were not successful, as there are a number of reasons that an application may not convert to an award, including withdrawal of the application.Figures are rounded to the nearest 100. Source:Hardship applications and awards - The numbers are collated from aggregate DWP MISP Management Information. This data is a combination of system and clerically sourced Management Information. As such it may contain duplicates and other inaccuracies. It does not form part of the official statistics outputs that are released by the Department in accordance with the UK Statistics Authority’s Code of Practice, and is subject to potential future revision.

Social Security Benefits

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of new claims for (a) jobseeker's allowance and (b) employment and support allowance were processed within (i) five, (ii) 10 and (iii) 16 days in the most recent 12 months for which data is available.

Damian Hinds: The information requested is provided in the following table. Oct 15 - Sept 16 (target 90% in 10 working days)Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) ClaimsProcessed in 5 days505,380% processed in 5 days of the total claims processed37.5%Processed in 10 days1,206,830% processed in 10 days of the total claims processed89.5%Processed in 16 days1,309,561% processed in 16 days of the total claims processed97.1%Oct 15 - Sept 16 (target 85% in 10 working days)Employment & Support Allowance (ESA) ClaimsProcessed in 5 days461,832% processed in 5 days of the total claims processed58.2%Processed in 10 days692,029% processed in 10 days of the total claims processed87.2%Processed in 16 days738,806% processed in 16 days of the total claims processed93.1% Source:Management Information System Programme (MISP). MISP is a Departmental performance management, data capture and reporting tool. This type of internal management information does not form part of the official statistics outputs that are released by the Department in accordance with the UK Statistics Authority’s Code of Practice.

Universal Credit

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of new claims for universal credit were processed and paid within 42 days in the most recent 12 month period for which data is available.

Damian Hinds: The information requested is currently not available. Additional breakdowns of data will be included in future Universal Credit official statistics as quality assurance of data from the Universal Credit systems progresses.

Social Security Benefits: Greater London

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many households in (a) East Ham constituency and (b) the London Borough of Newham will be affected by the extension of the benefit cap to £23,000; and in each such case what the average reduction in benefits will be.

Caroline Nokes: It is estimated that around 400 households in East Ham constituency and 800 households in the London Borough of Newham will be affected by the lower benefit cap in 2016/17.It is estimated that the average reduction to benefits for capped households will be £76 per week in East Ham constituency and £74 per week in the London Borough of Newham in 2016/17. This is the overall average reduction from the benefit cap including the impact of both the existing higher benefit cap and the new lower benefit cap.Notes:Estimates assume no behavioural responses - any behavioural responses to the lower cap, such as claimants moving into employment, would cause the number of households affected to reduce.The number of capped households has been rounded to the nearest 100 householdsAverage amounts have been rounded to the nearest £1 per week.The methodology used to estimate the households affected by the cap is consistent with that described in the latest impact assessment published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/welfare-reform-and-work-act-impact-assessment-for-the-benefit-capThe benefit cap will be lowered from 7th November from £26,000 to £20,000, except in London where it will be lowered to £23,000 (the benefit cap for single adult households is lower). To help ensure Local Authorities are able to protect the most vulnerable Housing Benefit claimants and to support households adjusting to our welfare reforms, the Government will provide £870m funding for Discretionary Housing Payments over the next 5 years from 2016/17. Information about this and other measures to ease the transition for families affected by this policy change is included in the latest impact assessment at the link above.

Children: Maintenance

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in East Ham constituency (a) are entitled to claim child maintenance and (b) have experienced payment arrears due to non-resident parents not paying full or any child maintenance within the last 12 months; and what the total value is of these unpaid arrears.

Caroline Nokes: As at June 2016, there were 1,230 live cases with the Child Support Agency in the East Ham constituency and, in the 12 months to June 2016, 390 cases have experienced new payment arrears due to a non-resident parent either not paying any child maintenance or not paying in full. Information on geographical breakdowns on the Child Maintenance Service is not routinely recorded for management information purposes and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Notes:1) Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10.2) Monetary values are rounded to the nearest pound.3) Cases have been allocated to a parliamentary constituency by matching the residential postcode of the parent with care or non-resident parent for all cases administered on the CS2 and CSCS computer systems and cases managed off system to the Office for National Statistics Postcode Directory.4) The number of live cases might not include all people who are entitled to claim child maintenance in that constituency as we only hold data on people who apply to the Child Support Agency.

Child Poverty Unit: Staff

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many full-time equivalent staff have worked in the Child Poverty Unit in each of the last five years.

Damian Hinds: The Prime Minister is clear that tackling poverty and disadvantage, and delivering real social reform, is a priority for this Government.The full information requested is not available; however, what is available has been provided in the table below. Please note, these numbers do not included centrally-managed Civil Service fast streamers.   Child Poverty Unit: Full-time equivalent staff (on 31 March).2011/12We do not hold complete records for this year2012/1323.372013/1417.832014/1513.52015/1610.5

Universal Credit

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he plans to make an announcement on the timetable for the future roll-out of universal credit.

Damian Hinds: The next stages of the delivery of Universal Credit were set out by the Work and Pensions Secretary in a Written Statement to Parliament on 20 July. The rollout schedule from May 2016 through to March 2017 can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/539516/universal-credit-transition-rollout-schedule-phase-1-to-3-2016-to-2017.pdfFurther details of the sites rolling out from April 2017 will be announced later this year.

Home Office

Asylum

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the date of receipt was of the oldest outstanding further submission related to an asylum claim.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Home Office records indicate that the oldest outstanding further submissions application related to an asylum claim is dated 12 December 2001.In March 2015 the Home Office implemented a new policy for individuals who make new further submissions in person in Liverpool and has significantly improved the handling and processing times of applications submitted since 30 March 2015.The Home Office is currently developing internal plans to address the older further submissions whilst deciding new applications submitted through the Further Submissions Unit in Liverpool. It is important to note there will always be exceptional cases that can not be dealt with due to circumstances outwith the control of the Home Office.

British Nationality: Assessments

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what projection she has made of future demand for the Knowledge of Life in the UK test.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Holding answer received on 18 October 2016



Data on the number of Life in the UK tests completed is published on a quarterly basis as part of the Migration Transparency Data release. Quarterly volumes can be found in the table ‘Temporary and permanent migration data’. See tab LUK01. This data can be accessed via the link below:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-transparency-data

British Nationality: Assessments

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many UK test centres for the Knowledge of Life in the UK were operating in each year from 2010 to date.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Holding answer received on 18 October 2016



The number of test centres operating in each calendar year is as follows: YearNumber of test centres201066201165201273201378201475201566 Note: The numbers are the total number of test centres operating in the stated years. For example, if a test centre closed in one town but was replaced by another, then this would be recorded as two individual test centres.

Overseas Students: Visas

Dr Paul Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to review immigration rules for students.

Mr Robert Goodwill: As the Home Secretary recently announced, we will shortly be consulting on what more we can do to strengthen the system to support the best institutions – and those that stick to the rules – to attract the best talent.The consultation will include looking, for the first time, at whether our student immigration rules should be tailored to the quality of the institution.Interested parties, including businesses and members of the education sector, will have the opportunity to engage with this consultation to help us get these reforms right.

Overseas Students

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made, other than by using passenger survey data, of the number of international students each year who break their visa obligations by remaining in the UK after their course has ended.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The independent Office for National Statistics (ONS) has confirmed that the International Passenger Survey (IPS) continues to be the best source of information to measure long-term international migration.The ONS published a report in January 2016, “International student migration: what do the statistics tell us?” which can be found here:http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/migration1/long-term-international-migration/student-migration---what-do-the-statistics-tell-us-/student-migration---what-do-the-statistics-tell-us.pdf

Immigration

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times DNA testing has been used in immigration cases in each of the last three years.

Mr Robert Goodwill: DNA testing is not carried out or required for immigration applications. Information regarding DNA tests submitted by applicants is not aggregated in national reporting systems. This information could only be obtained by a manual case by case review to collate the data, which would be disproportionately expensive.

Asylum: Children

Stephen Kinnock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times her Department has disputed the age of someone claiming to be a child when making an asylum application in the last 12 months.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Home Office publishes the number of age disputes raised in each quarter in table as_10_q, in volume 3 of the asylum data tables: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/546760/asylum3-q2-2016-tabs.odsThe numbers of disputed cases are reported in section 13 ‘Age Disputes’ of the Asylum chapter, in the Immigration Statistics release: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-april-to-june-2016/asylum

Entry Clearances: Married People

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to change the £18,600 income threshold for immigration of non-EEA partners of British citizens.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The minimum income threshold of £18,600 for sponsoring a non-EEA partner to come to the UK prevents burdens on the taxpayer and promotes integration. It was set following advice from the independent Migration Advisory Committee and reflects the income at which a family settled in the UK generally ceases to be able to access income-related benefits. The policy has been approved by Parliament and upheld as lawful by the courts.

Police: Mental Health Services

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department holds information on the number of times (a) territorial support groups and (b) other police officers have been deployed to a mental health unit in response to a request from a provider in each of the last three years.

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department holds information on the number of times (a) territorial support groups and (b) other police officers have been deployed to recall a person on a mental heath treatment order in the community and to return them to hospital in each of the last three years.

Brandon Lewis: The Home Office does not hold information on the number of times that any police officers or other police staff have been deployed to a mental health unit or deployed to recall a person on a mental health treatment order in the community to return them to hospital.Police deployments are an operational matter for the relevant police force.

UK Visas and Immigration: Expenditure

Mr Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much was spent on (a) food, (b) drinks, (c) rail fares, (d) air fares, (e) mileage allowances, (f) taxis, (g) other travel costs, (h) room hire and (i) accommodation for staff by UK Visas and Immigration in the first nine months of 2016.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Home Office does not publish this data by calendar year. The Home Office compiles its Annual Report and Accounts by financial year. The Annual Report and Accounts 2015-16 can be found on the .gov.uk website

Immigration: Detainees

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policy on migrant detention of the report published by Detention Action entitled, Without detention, on 26 September 2016.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Government receives a large number of reports from a range of organisations (including Detention Action) and takes them into account, as appropriate, in developing its policies and strategies.Our published policy is clear that alternatives to detention should be used wherever possible, and we will continue to use detention to tackle immigration abuse by enforcing removal when necessary. Depriving someone of their liberty will always be subject to careful consideration and scrutiny, and will take account of individual circumstances.The Government commissioned an independent review of the welfare of vulnerable individuals in detention by Stephen Shaw. We accepted the broad thrust of Mr Shaw’s recommendations, including the adoption of a wider definition of those at risk, and we have strengthened our policies and processes for dealing with the detention of persons who may be vulnerable.

Immigration Enforcement Directorate

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to publish her Department's Immigration Enforcement Business Plan for 2016-17.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Immigration Enforcement Business Plan for 2016 -17 will be published in due course.

UK Visas and Immigration: Public Expenditure

Mr Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the cost was to the public purse of (a) room hire, (b) food and (c) hot and cold drinks for the UK Visas and Immigration North West MP Account Manager Team Regional Event held at Manchester Civil Justice Centre on 16 September 2016.

Mr Robert Goodwill: There was no charge for the venue and no cost to the public purse for refreshments.

Passports: Syria

Paula Sherriff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many passports have been confiscated from Syrian citizens by UK officials in Turkey in 2016 on the basis of those passports having been stolen.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Home Office does not have legal authority in Turkey to confiscate foreign passports which have been reported as lost or stolen or identified as forged.

Refugees: Children

Kirsten  Oswald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the safety of unaccompanied refugee children who have not been placed in alternative accommodation or registered with the French authorities after the demolition of the camp in Calais; and what steps the Government is taking in conjunction with the French authorities to help ensure the safety of those children.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The clearance of the camp is a French-led operation, but we have been working very closely with the French authorities to ensure that it is delivered as safely as possible, and that children are properly protected. We are committed to ensuring that minors eligible to come to the UK under the Dublin Regulation or the wider criteria of the Dubs amendment continue to be transferred as quickly as possible.

Northern Ireland Office

Business: Northern Ireland

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will hold discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive and business leaders on the promotion in the Irish Republic of retailing opportunities in Northern Ireland.

James Brokenshire: I have established a business advisory group to engage with the business community in Northern Ireland, including a sectoral focused meeting with the retail sector.I will continue to work with businesses and the Executive to promote opportunities in Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland Office: Pay

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what proportion of women are employed by his Department on an inner London pay structure in the following pay grades (a) Administrative Assistant, (b) Administrative Officer, (c) Executive Officer, (d) Higher Executive Officer, (e) Fast Streamer, (f) Senior Executive Officer, (g) Grade Seven, (h) Grade Six, (i) Senior Civil Service Band 1, (j) Senior Civil Service Band 1A, (k) Senior Civil Service Band 2 and (l) Senior Civil Service Band 3.

Kris Hopkins: The proportion of women employed by my Department on an inner London pay structure in the following grades (a) Administrative Assistant, (b) Administrative Officer, (c) Executive Officer, (d) Higher Executive Officer, (e) Fast Streamer, (f) Senior Executive Officer, (g) Grade Seven, (h) Grade Six, (i) Senior Civil Service Band 1, (j) Senior Civil Service Band 1A, (k) Senior Civil Service Band 2 and (l) Senior Civil Service Band 3 is as follows: a) Administrative Assistant0%b) Administrative Officer2%c) Executive Officer13%d) Higher Executive Officer8.5%e) Fast Streamer0%f) Senior Executive Officer4%g) Grade 78.5%h) Grade 60%i) SCS 16%j) SCS 20%k) SCS 30%  There figures are based on HCS staff employed by the Northern Ireland Office and do not include female staff seconded from the Northern Ireland Civil Service.

Department of Health

Health Services: North West

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the budget deficit for Cheshire and Merseyside if the current sustainability and transformation plans are implemented.

Mr Philip Dunne: It is important to recognise that whilst national health and care bodies, chiefly NHS England and NHS Improvement, have published guidance on the Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) process, the STP plans themselves are being developed by local areas based on local health and care needs. Information about how local areas are planning to close their ‘do nothing’ financial gap will be included in each STP. These are not yet available for publication.

NHS: Sustainable Development

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made toward the publication of NHS transformation and sustainability plans for Cheshire and Merseyside.

Mr Philip Dunne: Every health and care system in England is producing a multi-year Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP), showing how local services will evolve and become sustainable over the next five years – ultimately delivering the Five Year Forward View vision of better health, better patient care and improved National Health Service efficiency. Understandably these are at different stages of development, but over the coming months most are likely to be discussing proposals they are considering with local communities and other local partners. Cheshire and Merseyside are currently working with health and social care leaders on their STPs to deliver practical and important improvements for patients over the next five years, on mental health, cancer, general practice and other services. Proposals will be published when they are ready and every area will be working to a different timeframe, based on own circumstances and how well-progressed the plan is.

NHS: Sustainable Development

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what procedures are in place to allow public consultation after the publication of NHS transformation and sustainability plans for Cheshire and Merseyside.

Mr Philip Dunne: NHS providers, commissioners, local authorities, and other health and care services are coming together to propose how they, at local level, can improve the way that health and care is planned and delivered in a more person-centred and coordinated way.In order to achieve this, NHS England, with other national health and care bodies, released guidance to the local areas developing Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STPs) entitled ‘Engaging local people’ in September 2016 which can be found on their website:https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/engag-local-people-stps.pdfThe local organisations which are shaping these proposals will be leading public engagement processes on their STP plans, in line with the engagement guidance.

Motor Neurone Disease: Health Services

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of care and treatment available to patients diagnosed with motor neurone disease.

David Mowat: NHS England is responsible for securing high quality care for patients with neurological conditions, including motor neurone disease (MND). All services for people with MND are commissioned nationally, in line with NHS England’s neurosciences service specification. This sets out what providers must have in place to deliver high quality specialised neurological care. Specialist care can include a range of services such as counselling and emotional support, respiratory care, speech and language therapy, physiotherapy, respiratory secretion management, neurorehabilitation, physiotherapy and palliative care. Drugs can be used for symptom management, but riluzole is the only pharmacological drug licensed in the United Kingdom to slow the progression of MND.NHS England also commissions augmentative and alternative communication aids to restore communication for people who cannot use speech, including people with MND. Specifications for neurosciences and augmentative and alternative communication aids can be found at the following links:www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/spec-services/npc-crg/group-e/e04/   www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2016/03/aac-serv-spec-jan-2016.pdfOn 24 February 2016, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published a new best practice guideline on the assessment and management of MND. The guideline can be found at the following link:www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng42/resources/motor-neurone-disease-assessment-and-management-1837449470149

Mental Health Services: Redditch

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to paragraph 1.233 of the Budget 2015, how much of the £1.25 billion allocated to children and adolescent mental health services (a) has been and (b) is due to be allocated to Redditch constituency.

Nicola Blackwood: We are advised by NHS England that, from the total additional funding for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services made available over this Parliament, the amount allocated to Redditch and Bromsgrove Clinical Commissioning Group was £295,000 in 2015/16 and £422,000 in 2016/17. These figures include a portion of the £30 million per year over the course of this Parliament for treatment of eating disorders in children and young people, announced in the 2014 Autumn Statement. Allocations for 2017/18 onwards have not yet been confirmed by NHS England.

Health Services: Veterans

David Mackintosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that NHS priority treatment for armed forces veterans is delivered by private health care providers when HNS services are contracted out to such providers.

David Mowat: The standard contract between NHS England and any independent providers requires due regard to the health commitments of the Armed Forces Covenant which includes ensuring veterans receive priority treatment for any condition which is related to their time in service, subject to the clinical needs of others.

Health Services

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he or officials of his Department have had with NHS England on the operation of its specialised commissioning prioritisation process in 2016.

David Mowat: NHS England is responsible for making specialised commissioning decisions on the basis of clinical evidence and cost effectiveness. As such, the Department does not influence the process. However, officials continue to work closely with NHS England on related matters, including having regular discussions regarding the specialised commissioning process.

Health Services

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reasons NHS England (a) proposed and (b) abandoned the introduction of a soft market testing exercise as part of its specialised commissioning prioritisation process in September 2016.

David Mowat: During September and October 2016 NHS England undertook a soft market testing exercise with suppliers to inform the specialised commissioning prioritisation process. The exercise was very well supported and NHS England gained valuable insight of current market conditions associated with the policies under consideration. In the run-up to the Clinical Priorities Advisory Group meetings a considerable amount of information was shared with suppliers for comment, in terms of both clinical and financial assessment. The majority of suppliers took up this opportunity to contribute to the process and engaged positively with NHS England. NHS England had also planned to use an electronic portal during the soft market exercise. However, in view of the volume and range of responses to the information shared, it was decided on this occasion that it would be more beneficial to allow suppliers to volunteer any market intelligence through correspondence and meetings.

Health Services: Veterans

David Mackintosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how health care professionals assess whether a veteran's illness or condition is related to service in the armed forces and therefore eligible for priority NHS treatment; and if he will make a statement.

David Mowat: It is for clinicians to determine whether it is likely that a condition is related to service via clinical assessment and patient disclosure. Veterans accessing the nine National Health Service disablement centres and the veteran’s prosthetic panel will be asked to provide supporting information that the injury is service related.

Clinical Priorities Advisory Group

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether recommendations made by NHS England's Clinical Priorities Advisory Group on the basis of inaccurate costings provided by NHS England are subject to an appeals process.

David Mowat: There is no formal appeals process for recommendations made by NHS England’s Clinical Priorities Advisory Group.However, if there are continuing concerns over a decision a stakeholder could ask the Director of Specialised Commissioning to investigate if there is a belief that an error has been made; or could make a complaint to NHS England through the complaints procedure:https://www.england.nhs.uk/contact-us/complaint/

NHS 111: Mental Illness

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many calls the NHS 111 helpline received from people experiencing mental illness in the last 12 months.

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, on how many occasions the NHS 111 helpline has made recommendations for people experiencing mental illness in the last 12 months.

Nicola Blackwood: The information requested is not held centrally.

Self-harm: Females

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to page 317 of the NHS Digital report, Mental health and wellbeing in England, Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2014, published on 29 September 2016, if he will commission research into the causes of the increase in self-harming among young women.

Nicola Blackwood: The National Institute for Health Research and the Department’s Policy Research Programme have no current plans to commission research on this specific topic. In their report the Mental Health Taskforce recommended that the United Kingdom should aspire to be a world leader in the development and application of new mental health research. The Taskforce asked specifically that the Department, working with relevant partners, should publish a report by February 2017 setting out a 10-year strategy for mental health research. The final 10-year strategy is planned for publication in February 2017 and will identify future needs in mental health research.

Mental Health: Worcestershire

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department has taken to increase public awareness of mental health in Worcestershire in each of the last three years.

Nicola Blackwood: This is a matter for the local National Health Service. NHS England advises that initiatives instigated by the local mental health service provider, Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, include a campaign in February 2015, primarily aimed at young people, called ‘Self-help not self-harm’. The Trust’s campaign ‘How do you keep a healthy mind?’ raised awareness of coping methods for low level mental health issues such as stress, anxiety and low mood. This campaign tied in with the launch of the Worcestershire Healthy Minds service, which aims to support people earlier and prevent issues escalating. Its website has had over 16,000 hits since April this year. The Trust has produced a Healthy Minds application, providing links to help people live well with common mental health problems. Since its launch, the application has been downloaded by over 1,800 people.

Mental Health Services: Worcestershire

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to improve access to talking therapies in Worcestershire.

Nicola Blackwood: Talking therapy services are provided through the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme, led by NHS England. There are a number of routes into the programme including general practice referral and self-referral. The programme aims to ensure that services provide treatment within six weeks for 75% of people referred to the programme, and that 95% of people are treated within 18 weeks. These waiting time standards were introduced by the Government from 1 April 2015.

Dementia: Health Services

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the average length of stay in hospital for people with (a) Alzheimer's disease and (b) dementia in each of the last three years.

David Mowat: NHS Digital has collected and reported data on the average length of inpatient stay, for all providers in England, for the years 2012-13 to 2014-15. The information requested is set out in the following tables A to C: Table A: Average length of inpatient stay of patients with Alzheimer’s disease reported as primary condition in England for the years specified. Alzheimer’s disease2012-132013-142014-15Average Length of Stay (Days)605449 Table B: Average length of inpatient stay of patients with dementia as primary condition in England for the years specified.Dementia2012-132013-142014-15Average Length of Stay (Days)423532 Table C: Average length of inpatient stay of patients with dementia in Alzheimer’s in England for the years specified.Dementia in Alzheimer’s2012-132013-142014-15Average Length of Stay (Days)645352 This third table, ‘Dementia in Alzheimer’s’ includes episodes of care already counted with a primary diagnosis of Alzheimer’s as well as those with Alzheimer’s as a secondary diagnosis to dementia. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics, NHS Digital

Mental Health Services: Domestic Violence

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to ensure that mental health service practitioners routinely enquire about women's experience of violence and abuse as standard practice and offer appropriate support and pathways into care.

Nicola Blackwood: Within mental health services, issues to do with experiences of violence and abuse are regularly identified during ongoing treatment for mental health conditions. NHS England plans to roll out sensitive routine enquiry about violence and abuse within mental health services across England (following completion of some pilot schemes which are currently underway). There are also pilots to introduce sensitive, routine enquiry about adverse childhood experiences in certain targeted services such as Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and sexual health clinics. This will provide people aged 14 years and over the opportunity to disclose adverse experience of abuse and neglect, so that they can get the help they need much sooner. The Department also published an e-learning tool to improve health staff competence in preventing, identifying and responding to child sexual exploitation in March 2015.

Mental Illness: Police Custody

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate his Department has made of the number of children and young people being detained under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 in police cells in each year since 2010.

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Home Affairs on changes in the level of use of section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983.

Nicola Blackwood: The Department and Home Office have been working together to increase the use of joint health and policing approaches and interventions that reduce the need for the police to use their powers of detention under section 136 of the Mental Health Act. The introduction of initiatives such as street triage schemes and community based places of safety provide an alternative to the use of police cells. Through the Health Based Places of Safety capital funding scheme, £15 million has been made available in 2016/17 and 2017/18 to improve the standard and number of places of safety, as well as provide new crisis cafes and safe havens, street triage vehicles and improve facilities for children and young people. This programme aligns with the mental health Crisis Care Concordat, the England-wide national agreement between the different agencies and services involved in the care of people experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, a mental health crisis. Oversight of the Concordat is provided by the Concordat Steering Group and Chairmanship of this Group rotates between Departmental and Home Office Ministers. Regarding the number of children and young people detained under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 in police cells in England each year since 2010, the information available is shown in the table. Data was not collected prior to 2011/12. We understand the data for 2015/16 will now be published by NHS Digital in November.

Mental Health Services

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking in response to the findings of the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership response report, National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide with Mental Illness: Making Mental Health Care Safer, published in October 2016.

Nicola Blackwood: We welcome the publication of the ‘National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness: Making Mental Health Care Safer’ and will carefully consider its findings. We work closely with NHS England and other arm’s length bodies to deliver the aims of the cross-Government Suicide Prevention Strategy which includes reducing suicide in high risk groups such as people in contact with mental health services. We welcome the recommendation in the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health that all deaths by suicide across National Health Service-funded mental health settings, including out-of-area placements, are learned from to prevent repeat events. We are strengthening the Cross-Government Suicide Prevention Strategy in key areas to improve delivery of its aims, which we will publish in due course. Homicides by people with mental illness are rare and the Department works with a wide range of agencies across Government and the NHS to ensure there are robust processes in place to deliver safe care for patients in the community, including identifying and managing risks to ensure the safety of the public.

Mental Health Services

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance his Department provides to signpost mental health patients with financial difficulties to specialised support services.

Nicola Blackwood: The Department would expect local services to signpost and refer people to specialised support services, such as financial management and debt relief. Those with common mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression may access Improving Access to Psychological Therapies services for treatment. People with more serious mental ill health would be referred to secondary mental health services.

Mental Illness: Community Care

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to improve the services offered by crisis resolution and home treatment teams to reduce the number of patients who die by suicide while under that care.

Nicola Blackwood: Earlier this year the Government announced an additional £1 billion to improve mental health services over the next five years. This includes £400 million to support delivery of the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health recommendation to develop seven-day community-based mental health crisis resolution services by 2020/21. We launched the successful Mental Health Crisis Care Concordat in 2014 to ensure that people receive the appropriate support they need when they experience a mental health crisis. Every area in the country now has a local crisis care action plan in place which ensures that local agencies are working together to deliver support to people in a mental health crisis. We welcomed the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health recommendations for suicide prevention to reduce the national suicide rate by 10% by 2020/21, for all areas to implement multi-agency suicide prevention plans by 2017 and that all deaths by suicide across NHS-funded mental health settings, including out-of-area placements, are learned from to prevent repeat events. We have been clear that we expect local crisis care action plans to dovetail with multi-agency suicide prevention plans. My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health delivered this message at the Crisis Care Summit in October. Public Health England published refreshed guidance to local authorities, ‘Local Suicide Prevention Planning: A practice resource’ in October to support them in developing suicide prevention plans. The guidance highlights the link with local crisis care action plans and suicide prevention plans. We are strengthening key areas of the cross-Government Suicide Prevention Strategy to improve local delivery of its aims, which we will publish in due course.

Drugs: Prices

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effect of high drug prices on NHS funding.

Nicola Blackwood: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 25 October 2016 to Question 49032.

Mental Health Services

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance his Department has issued on acceptable waiting times for patients prescribed talking therapies by their GP.

Nicola Blackwood: Talking therapy services are provided through the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme, led by NHS England. There are a number of routes into the programme including general practice referral and self-referral. The programme aims to ensure that services provide treatment within six weeks for 75% of people referred to the programme, and that 95% of people are treated within 18 weeks. These waiting time standards were introduced by the government from 1 April 2015.

Mental Health Services: Worcestershire

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of patients who have used mental health services in (a) Worcestershire and (b) Redditch in each of the last three years.

Nicola Blackwood: Information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the following table. This information includes people in contact with secondary mental health services. People in contact only with primary care mental health services are not included. Number of people covered by National Health Service commissioners in Worcestershire using NHS funded secondary mental health services from 2012/13 to 2014/15 2012/132013/142014/15Worcestershire Primary Care Trust (PCT)13,296--Redditch and Bromsgrove Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)-3,8754,475South Worcestershire CCG-7,4358,585Wyre Forest CCG-2,5803,075Source: NHS Digital Mental Health Minimum Dataset/Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Dataset Notes:This information includes people in contact with secondary mental health services for adults between 2012/13 and 2013/14. In September 2014 the scope of the dataset expanded to include learning disabilities and autism services. Statistics for 2014/15 are therefore not directly comparable to previous years.Where people are recorded against more than one CCG during the year, they are only counted once for the CCG recording their highest level of care. Care spells with an admission are prioritised over care spells without an admission.'-' denotes data not available.In 2013/14, PCTs were replaced by CCGs. Worcestershire PCT was replaced by Redditch and Bromsgrove CCG, South Worcestershire CCG and Wyre Forest CCG. Hence the PCT figure is provided for 2012/13 and CCG figures for 2013/14 and 2014/15.Information for 2015/16 is not available. It will be published on 30 November 2016.Statistics are subject to suppression to avoid disclosure of information relating to identifiable individuals. In 2012/13, figures between 0 and 4 are suppressed and secondary suppression is applied where required. From 2013/14, figures between 0 and 4 are suppressed and all numbers are rounded to the nearest 5.Changes in volume between years might reflect either changes in service delivery or changes in data quality. Therefore, figures for any year may not be fully comparable with other years, particularly at provider level.

Macular Degeneration: Research

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of funding provided to researching age-related macular degeneration.

Nicola Blackwood: Investment in eye-related research by the Department’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) has more than tripled from £7 million in 2010/11 to £22 million in 2015/16. This investment includes a wide range of research relating to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Current investment in AMD research through NIHR programmes includes:- a £2.2 million trial of stereotactic radiotherapy for wet AMD;- a £2.2 million study of early detection of neo-vascular AMD; and- a £0.9 million study of the efficacy of the telescopic mirror implant for AMD. The NIHR also funds AMD research through infrastructure including the NIHR biomedical research centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and University College London. Current funding for this centre ends in March 2017, and the NIHR has recently awarded a total of £19 million over five years from April 2017 to the centre. The usual practice of the NIHR is not to ring-fence funds for expenditure on particular topics: research proposals in all areas compete for the funding available. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including AMD. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality. In all disease areas, the amount of NIHR funding depends on the volume and quality of scientific activity.

Plastic Surgery: China

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with the Chinese government on safety standards for UK citizens travelling to China to have cosmetic surgery.

Mr Philip Dunne: Discussions have not been held with the Chinese Government on safety standards for United Kingdom citizens travelling to China to have cosmetic surgery.

Fractures: Digital Technology

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with medical companies on the potential merits of using 3D printers to help those with broken bones.

Nicola Blackwood: There have been no recent discussions between my Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and medical companies on the use of 3D printers in relation to broken bones.

Stomach Cancer

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he plans to make high definition cameras available on the NHS to detect and treat stomach cancer.

David Mowat: Trials using high-definition cameras to detect stomach cancer are currently underway. Non-specialised equipment is commissioned locally by clinical commissioning groups and they are responsible for ensuring that the services they commission meet the needs of their local population.

Medical Records

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which person or body has overall ownership and copyright of Health Records in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland.

Nicola Blackwood: Legal responsibility for health records lies with the healthcare body that has provided care or treatment to a patient. Patients do not have any legal rights of ownership to the medical records held by the National Health Service organisations but they do have certain rights of access to those records.

Dense Deposit Disease: Eculizumab

Andrea Jenkyns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what information he holds on the use of eculizumab to treat a patient with dense deposit disease at Evelina Children's Hospital.

Andrea Jenkyns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment he has made of the case of Abi Longfellow and her access to eculizumab for the treatment of dense deposit disease.

David Mowat: No information is held centrally and no such assessment has been made by this Department. Eculizumab is not a licensed treatment for Dense Deposit Disease and well-constructed clinical trials on effectiveness are yet to be carried out. A new policy proposition for its use in treating the disease before a patient has had a kidney transplant will be considered during 2016-17. There is a published policy on use of this drug for the prevention of recurrence after a patient has had a transplant. A policy on the treatment of C3 glomerulopathy that occurs after a kidney transplant will be considered by the Clinical Priorities Advisory Group (CPAG) at its next meeting. CPAG reviews both patient benefits and cost considerations when making recommendations.

Hospitals: Travel

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what average home-to-hospital journey time his Department uses as its benchmark for acceptable travelling time for patients using (a) accident and emergency and (b) maternity services.

Mr Philip Dunne: There is no central guidance on average home-to-hospital journey times for accident and emergency or maternity services. The redesign and delivery of front-line health services is a matter for the local National Health Service – clinically led by front-line NHS organisations and clinicians who are closest to the needs of their communities. The NHS is developing ambulance services that act as mobile assessment and treatment services and a networked approach to urgent and emergency care services to ensure patients are treated in the facility best equipped to provide whatever care is needed. For some patients requiring specialist care this may be in a hospital that is further away. NHS England has also asked Local Maternity Systems to develop plans that ensure women receive the maternity care that they want and need including, where women choose it, care in the community as close to home as possible.

Fertility: Medical Treatments

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he has had discussions with Fertility Fairness on clinical commissioning groups' adherence to NICE guidelines on the provision of NHS funded infertility services.

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 12 September 2016 to Question 44420, whether he has sought advice from Fertility Fairness on the improvement of in vitro fertilisation services.

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 12 September 2016 to Question 44420, whether his Department has met Fertility Fairness to discuss fertility treatment in England.

Nicola Blackwood: The then Minister for Public Health met Fertility Fairness and other stakeholders on 14 December 2015 to discuss the National Health Service provision of fertility services and, in particular, issues around the pricing of NHS in vitro fertilisation. Fertility Fairness has subsequently provided information and intelligence to the Department about current trends. A representative from Fertility Fairness is also closely involved in the work to develop a benchmark price for infertility treatments.

Mental Health Services: Children and Young People

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what information his Department holds on the average waiting times for access to child and adult mental health services.

Nicola Blackwood: This information is not collected centrally. Experimental data to monitor the waiting time target for people experiencing a first episode of psychosis has been collected by NHS England since December 2015 and is available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/eip-waiting-times/ Some experimental data from the Mental Health Services Data Set relevant to waiting times standards is also published by NHS Digital. The most recent figures are at: http://content.digital.nhs.uk/searchcatalogue?productid=23263&returnid=1741

Prisons: Dental Services

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the availability of dental services in prisons.

Nicola Blackwood: NHS England is responsible for commissioning dental services in prisons, using a national service specification for the provision of prison dental services. The national service specification is currently under review as a result of prison reconfiguration. NHS England is working with the British Dental Association and National Association of Prison Dentistry UK to ensure that the updated specification meets the needs of the prison patient population.

Diabetes: Chiropody

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he plans to take to ensure that all people with diabetes have access to a multidisciplinary footcare team at their local hospital.

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will introduce a target for trusts on the proportion of people with diabetes receiving a foot risk assessment on admission to hospital.

Nicola Blackwood: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Diabetes Quality Standard is clear that people with diabetes who are at risk of foot ulceration should receive regular reviews by a foot protection team in accordance with its clinical guidance. The Health and Social Care Act 2012 places a duty on NHS England to have regard to the NICE Quality Standards. Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) should also have regard to them in planning and delivering services, as part of a general duty to secure a continuous improvement in quality. The National Diabetes Audit includes an indicator measuring the provision of access to a multidisciplinary diabetes footcare teams to enable progress to be tracked. The focus to date has been on improving access to assessment and treatment by a specialist team. The proportion of hospitals with a multidisciplinary diabetes foot care team was 60% in 2011, 72% in 2013 and 69% in 2015. The NHS Operational Planning and Contracting Guidance 2017-19 announced NHS England’s intention to launch a £40 million programme of investment to support CCGs to improve the treatment and care of people with diabetes. This includes improving access to multi-disciplinary foot care teams for people with diabetic foot disease.

General Practitioners: Medical Records

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to improve the process of patient data transfer when moving from one GP to another.

Nicola Blackwood: The GP2GP project is working to ensure all clinical system suppliers are using the next version of GP2GP, Version 2.2 which is significantly improved.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many women have had polycystic ovary syndrome in each of the last five years.

Nicola Blackwood: NHS Digital have provided the data in the table below derived from finished admission episodes with a primary diagnosis and a primary and secondary diagnosis for polycystic ovary syndrome in England from 2010/11 to 2014/15. YearPrimary DiagnosisPrimary and Secondary Diagnosis2010/111,66120,5732011/121,68424,7012012/131,77727,8442013/141,57832,9472014/151,55436,966

In Vitro Fertilisation: Artificial Sweeteners

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance is made available to women participating in IVF treatments on avoidance of artificial sweetners.

Nicola Blackwood: Research was recently presented to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine's Scientific Congress about a possible link between the consumption of diet drinks containing artificial sweetener and reduced chances of getting pregnant during fertility treatment. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has advised that its Scientific and Clinical Advances Advisory Committee will consider this research.

Headaches: Depressive Illnesses

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his Department has had with clinical bodies on the potential link between headaches and depression.

Nicola Blackwood: Public Health England has not had discussions on the potential links between headaches and depression with any clinical bodies.

Human Papillomavirus: Vaccination

Mr Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the safety of the HPV vaccination.

Nicola Blackwood: As with all vaccines and medicines, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is monitoring the safety of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in the United Kingdom. The MHRA takes advice from the Government's independent expert advisory body, the Commission on Human Medicines, when evaluating the risks and benefits of medicines and vaccines. The MHRA's current assessment is that available evidence does not support a causal link between the HPV vaccination and development of chronic illnesses, and that the benefits in protecting against cervical cancer and other HPV-related disease outweigh the possible known side effects of the vaccines. Separately, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) carried out reviews of HPV vaccine safety in June 2015 and also advised that available evidence does not support a causal link between the HPV vaccine and development of chronic illnesses. JCVI concluded that it had no concerns about the safety of the HPV vaccine and strongly supported continued use of the vaccine to prevent infection with HPV and reduce cases of cervical cancer and other HPV associated cancers.

Social Services: Living Wage

Peter Aldous: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential level of cost pressures on learning disability service provider wage budgets arising from the application of the national living wage to sleep-in shifts.

David Mowat: No assessment has been made as we do not collect data on the extent of sleep-overs, so are not in a position to estimate costs. Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities must have regard to fostering an effective workforce with the appropriate capabilities when shaping their local markets. The Act and its statutory guidance make clear that prices and fee rates agreed with providers must reflect these duties.

Injuries: Fireworks

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of accident and emergency admissions in October, November, December and January in each year since 2010 resulted from fireworks-related injuries.

Mr Philip Dunne: The proportion of accident and emergency (A&E) admissions due to a firework related injury in October, November, December and January in each year from 2010 to January 2015 is shown in the table below. Final data from October 2015 onwards is not yet available. Percentage of A&E attendances due to a firework related injuryOctober 20100.02%November 20100.08%December 20100.07%January 20110.07%October 20110.07%November 20110.08%December 20110.07%January 20120.08%October 20120.02%November 20120.03%December 20120.02%January 20130.02%October 20130.02%November 20130.04%December 20130.03%January 20140.02%October 20140.02%November 20140.03%December 20140.02%January 20150.02% Source: Hospital Episode Statistics, NHS DigitalNote:1. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage and changes in National Health Service practice. For example, changes in activity may be due to changes in the provision of care.

Mental Health Services: Children

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what information his Department holds on the average travel distance for treatment for child mental health inpatients.

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that mental health inpatients under the age of 12 are able to receive treatment as close to their family home as possible.

Nicola Blackwood: We are committed to delivering clinically-effective services as close to patients’ homes as possible, realising that local delivery of services allows local commissioners to meet the needs of their populations. However, we acknowledge that there will always be a balance between those mental health services for children and young people that can and should be delivered in schools, general practitioners’ surgeries and local units and the more complex care that should be delivered by clinicians and therapists with specific expertise and experience and is therefore necessarily concentrated in fewer centres. NHS England is reviewing the distribution of inpatient mental health beds for children and young people to ensure that it meets the needs of the population, to improve local access, and deliver on a key objective of local integration of pathways of care.

Mental Health Services

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the availability of mental health inpatient treatment for (a) children and (b) adults in (i) Birmingham Northfield constituency, (ii) Birmingham and (iii) England.

Nicola Blackwood: The Government is committed to improving access to mental health services. We are investing an additional £1.4 billion to improve children and young people’s mental health, including eating disorders. We welcome the publication of the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health to transform mental health services and ensure that an additional 1 million people have access to services by 2020/21. Every health and care system in England is producing a multi-year Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP), showing how local services will evolve and become sustainable over the next five years – ultimately delivering the Five Year Forward View vision of better health, better patient care and improved NHS efficiency. Whilst national health and care bodies, chiefly NHS England and NHS Improvement, have published guidance on the STP process, the STPs themselves are being developed by local areas. In the case of children’s mental health services, these STPs will be informed by local transformation plans (LTPs), published in 2015 and refreshed in October 2016. In Birmingham, a single LTP covered all three clinical commissioning groups in the city. NHS England is currently reviewing the provision of specialised mental health beds for children and adults nationally. The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services review will make clear recommendations in the next few months about the future provision of services to ensure there is a more appropriate balance of beds nationally overall to support more local care. The service review work on adult specialised mental health services the service review work will be making recommendations about the future distribution of services in spring. All of the service reviews have involved local stakeholder engagement to ensure the needs of local populations are taken into account. Work has also been undertaken with key partners, including clinicians, in conducting the review of services and developing service specifications.

Psychiatry

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many psychological therapists were employed in Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Step 4 services in (a) Liverpool, Wavertree constituency, (b) Liverpool, (c) the Liverpool City Region and (d) each clinical commissioning group area in each year since 2010.

Nicola Blackwood: This information is not held centrally. “Step 4” Improving Access to Psychological Therapies is understood as the level of care received by an individual patient.

Mental Health Services

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many repeat referrals there were to Improving Access to Psychological Therapies services in (a) Liverpool, Wavertree constituency, (b) Liverpool, (c) the Liverpool City Region and (d) each clinical commissioning group area in each year since 2010.

Nicola Blackwood: Repeat referrals for Improving Access to Psychological Therapies services are shown in the attached table.



PQ 51702 table 1
(Excel SpreadSheet, 28.21 KB)

Mental Health Services

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many clients with common mental health conditions were seen by an Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Step 4 service in (a) Liverpool, Wavertree constituency, (b) Liverpool, (c) the Liverpool City Region and (d) each clinical commissioning group area in each year since 2010.

Nicola Blackwood: The number of clients with common mental health conditions seen by an Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Step 4 service is provided in the attached table. The Step 4 service is defined as referrals having a last recorded therapy type that is categorised as high intensity. This data was not collected prior to July 2014 and so this analysis is available for 2015-16 only.



PQ 51704 table 1 final
(Excel SpreadSheet, 38.93 KB)

Mental Health Services

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to publish recovery rates for Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Step 4 services.

Nicola Blackwood: An Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) Step 4 service has been understood as one where clients had a last recorded therapy type that is categorised as high intensity. Annual IAPT reports publish recovery rates by problem descriptor and therapy type.

Young People: Abuse

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to his Department's publication, Future in Mind, published in March 2015, if he will take steps to implement the recommendations in that publication that young people who have been sexually abused or exploited receive a comprehensive specialist initial assessment and referral to the services they need.

Nicola Blackwood: Mental health care should be provided on the basis of clinical need. While mental health treatment is often important to support recovery, there are times when other support can be beneficial in helping children and young people to recover from the trauma that arises from crimes committed against them. It is important that awareness of trauma (from abuse or neglect) and the impact it can have on children and young people’s mental health is raised across the workforce and that there is clarity on roles and responsibilities. Health Education England and NHS England are developing training for the health and wider children’s workforce to become more trauma aware. Where mental health care is needed, we want to ensure that children and young people can access good quality care, and the Government is committed to the vision set out in the report Future in Mind to transform the future of mental health services for all children and young people. This transformation is being supported by £1.25 billion of additional government investment over the course of this Parliament. It is expected that by 2020 an extra 70,000 children and young people will be helped every year. Local areas have produced Local Transformation Plans (LTPs) to improve the way these services are commissioned and delivered. LTPs should cover the full spectrum of service provision, including addressing the mental health needs of all children and young people. This includes the most vulnerable groups such as those who have been sexually abused or sexually exploited, making it easier for them to access the support they need when and where they need it. From 2016-17 children and young people’s mental health is being mainstreamed as part of the normal NHS England planning cycle so that LTPs are integrated into the wider Sustainability and Transformation Planning process.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Cancer: Research

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on research on rare and childhood cancers.

Joseph Johnson: The Government is committed to maintain and enhance the strength of our research base. This is why we have protected the science resource budget in real terms from its 2015/16 level of £4.7 billion for the rest of the parliament, as well as committing to invest in new scientific infrastructure on a record scale – £6.9 billion over the period 2015-2021. The Treasury decision to underwrite the grants of competitively bid for EU research funding will give British participants and their EU partners the assurance and certainty needed to plan ahead for collaborative projects that can run over many years. We are committed to ensure that the UK continues to be a world leader in international science, including medical research into cancer.

Energy: Meters

James Heappey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of the proportion of installed smart meters that cannot work because they do not have adequate mobile signal.

Jesse Norman: During the current Foundation Stage of the roll-out of smart metering, energy suppliers are installing smart meters using their own communications systems, which typically use mobile phone network services. The Government does not hold information on the adequacy of the coverage of these communications systems.For the main installation stage beginning later this year, the Data and Communications Company (DCC) is putting in place a shared communications network across GB to send and receive information from smart meters to energy suppliers, energy network operators and energy service companies via a Wide Area Network (WAN) using both cellular and long range radio technologies.The DCC has contracted services to provide coverage of at least 99.25% of GB premises by the end of 2020 and has already achieved coverage of more than 80% of GB premises.

Space Technology: Expenditure

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 16 September 2016 to Question 45694, how much the Government spent on space funding in each year from 2010 to 2016.

Joseph Johnson: The UK Space Agency was established on 1 April 2011. In line with the formal allocations received from the parent department BEIS (former Department for Business, Innovations and Skills), the UK Space Agency reported the following spend in each financial year. Financial yearTotal Net Expenditure(i) £m2011/12256.52012/13237.42013/14322.62014/15316.22015/16349.9 (i) The total net expenditure comprises subscriptions at the European Space Agency, National Programme investments, and Agency’s running and programme delivery costs.

Chemical Engineering: Licensing

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effect on the retention of automatic EU-wide marketing licences for chemical companies whose products are notified at a national level in the UK of the UK leaving the EU.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is currently working closely with the Department for Exiting the European Union to understand the impacts that withdrawal from the EU will have on businesses, consumers and other economic actors. Only once that analysis is complete will we be able to take an informed decision on what is best for the UK. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has said we will work hard to get the best deal for Britain.

Intellectual Property

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what his policy is on the recognition of UK firms' trademarks and patents in the EU after the UK has left the EU.

Joseph Johnson: There is no EU patent, so patents can only be granted with effect for individual states, either by applying directly to the relevant national office, or through the European Patent Office, which is not an EU body. These will therefore not be affected by the UK leaving the EU. Patents owned by UK businesses with effect for the UK will continue to be governed by national law. In contrast, the EU trade mark is a unitary right with effect for the whole of the EU. When the UK leaves the European Union, EU trade marks will still be available to UK business and existing EU trade marks will continue to offer protection in other Member States. We are consulting businesses and actively considering how existing EU trade marks can continue to provide protection in the UK.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Migrant Workers

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many citizens of non-UK EU countries work in his Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies.

Margot James: I refer the hon. Member to the response given on 12 September 2016 by the Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Orpington (Joseph Johnson) to Question UIN 45898.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Equality

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many equality impact assessments his Department carried out in 2016; and how many such assessments the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills carried out in each year since 2010.

Margot James: The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is placing equality at the heart of all policy and decision making.To comply with the Equality Act 2010, BEIS, and the former Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), assesses all key policies and decisions for any likely impact on individuals or groups with protected characteristics, and decisions are recorded.There is no requirement for public bodies to keep a record of the number of assessments carried out. However, those that were published, for former BIS, can be found located alongside technical and economic Impact Assessments at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?commit=Refresh+results&departments%5B%5D=department-for-business-innovation-skills&from_date=&keywords=&official_document_status=all&page=2&publication_filter_option=impact-assessments&to_date=&topics%5B%5D=all&world_locations%5B%5D=all.No equality impact assessments have been published since the inception of BEIS.

Electricity Generation

James Heappey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many sub-1000MW reciprocating engines have prequalified for the Third T4 Capacity Market auction; and whether his Department has made an assessment of the effect of such pre-qualifications on the UK's ability to meet its carbon emission targets.

Jesse Norman: Approximately 6.1GW of reciprocating engines have prequalified for the 2016 four-year ahead Capacity Market auction.Reciprocating engines emit less carbon per unit of generation than coal-fired power stations. They can also emit less carbon than larger gas-fired generation plants under certain conditions [1]. [1] National Physical Laboratory (2015): Carbon savings of demand side response of a UK energyaggregator http://www.npl.co.uk/content/ConPublication/6739

Consumer Protection Measures in the Ticket Resale Market Review

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has to implement the recommendations of the Independent Review of Consumer Protection Measures concerning online secondary ticketing facilities.

Margot James: The Government is considering Professor Waterson’s Review and will publish its response in due course.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Pay

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what proportion of women are employed by his Department on an inner London pay structure in the following pay grades (a) Administrative Assistant, (b) Administrative Officer, (c) Executive Officer, (d) Higher Executive Officer, (e) Fast Streamer, (f) Senior Executive Officer, (g) Grade Seven, (h) Grade Six, (i) Senior Civil Service Band 1, (j) Senior Civil Service Band 1A, (k) Senior Civil Service Band 2 and (l) Senior Civil Service Band 3.

Margot James: The proportion of women employed by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and based in London, is shown in the table below.Administrative Officer50%Executive Officer60%Higher Executive Officer56%Fast Streamer47%Senior Executive Officer47%Grade Seven46%Grade Six49%Senior Civil Service Band 146%Senior Civil Service Band 235%Senior Civil Service Band 343% The department does not have any employees at Administrative Assistant or Senior Civil Service Band 1A grades.The department uses a single London payscale and does not differentiate between inner or outer London.

Flexible Working

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to encourage businesses to offer flexible working conditions to (a) improve productivity and (b) reduce transport congestion.

Margot James: In June 2014 the Right to Request Flexible Working was extended to all employees with 26 weeks continuous service with their current employer. As part of this change, we made it easier for employers to consider requests for flexible working. The more onerous statutory procedure was replaced by a duty on employers to consider requests ‘in a reasonable manner’ – supported by a statutory Code of Practice and Acas guidance. Employers are now able to use their own informal processes for considering requests, as long as they can show that the way they considered the request was 'reasonable' in the circumstances.Flexible working is good news for business and the economy as well as individual employees. It ensures employers have access to the widest possible pool of talent, and the ability to recruit and retain this talent helps make a contribution to the productivity of individual businesses and the economy generally.

Manufacturing Industries

Dr Paul Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effect of the UK's decision to leave the EU on the UK manufacturing sector.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is contributing to the work of the Department for Exiting the European Union to analyse and understand the effects of leaving the EU on all sectors of the economy, including manufacturing.The Department is in on-going dialogue with businesses and trade organisations to understand concerns and identify opportunities from EU withdrawal for the manufacturing sector right across the UK.

Economic Growth: Redditch

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how (a) Midlands devolution and (b) the West Midlands growth engine plan will apply to Redditch constituency.

Margot James: We are committed to an economy that works for all and empowering local areas through the devolution of powers and resources. Devolution deals are a key part of our plan to support growth up and down the country. This Government will continue to support the Midlands Engine for growth, with the West Midlands as a key driver. Our ambition is to increase the value of the Midlands economy by £34 billion and create a further 300,000 jobs by 2030.The West Midlands devolution deal includes the largest Investment Fund to be awarded to any area. It will provide more than £1 billion over thirty years to spend on local projects that will drive economic growth. In May 2017 there will be an election for the mayor of the West Midlands, creating a role that will help to drive devolution and growth. Redditch, as a non-constituent member of the West Midlands Combined Authority, has the opportunity to influence the future direction of these devolved powers.This Government’s Local Growth Fund has supported development in Redditch, including the new Engineering Centre of Excellence. We have also committed to an ambitious programme of strategic road improvements, including a package for the M42 and M40 that should provide positive benefits for Redditch, as well as the wider West Midlands.

Fuel Poverty

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many people are deemed to live in fuel poverty; and how this figure has changed over the last three years.

Jesse Norman: Fuel poverty is measured at household level. The official statistics for the past three years for which data is available show that the number of households living in fuel poverty has remained relatively stable. There were 2.36 million households living in fuel poverty in England in 2012, this fell slightly to 2.35 million households in 2013, then increased to 2.38 million households in 2014. We believe the most sustainable way to address fuel poverty is by improving the energy efficiency of homes occupied by those living in fuel poverty. Between 2012 and 2014 the number of fuel poor homes with an energy efficiency rating of E, F or G reduced by approximately 350,000.

Nissan

Stewart Malcolm McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he had with his counterparts at the Department for Transport prior to Nissan's announcement of 27 October 2016 on the production of the next Qashqai and X-Trail models in the UK.

Mr Nick Hurd: My Rt hon friend the Secretary of State has regular discussions with Ministerial Colleagues on a number of issues.

Fireworks: Sales

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of the level of public sales of fireworks in each year since 2010.

Margot James: The Government has made no estimate of the level of public sales of fireworks. This is a £180 million industry that provides employment to at least 250 people directly and supports thousands of others in the supply chain. The Government will continue working with industry and retailers to promote the responsible use of fireworks.

Energy: Meters

Mr Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of the effect of delays to the DCC go-live date.

Jesse Norman: The Data and Communications Company has made significant progress and is undertaking final preparations for live services. In the meantime, consumers are able to receive smart meters and more than 4.2 million are already operating in homes and small businesses across the country. This allows consumers the opportunity to start accessing the benefits of smart metering early, and helps suppliers learn important lessons ahead of the main phase of the Programme when most consumers will receive their smart meters.

Employment Agencies

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of the number of recruitment agencies which require clients to register as a business before finding them employment.

Margot James: The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy does not hold information on how many recruitment agencies have made their clients register as a business before finding them employment.

Wind Power: Scottish Islands

Mr Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate his Department has made of the potential economic benefits of the remote Scottish islands onshore wind projects for (a) the regional economies of those islands and (b) the wider UK supply chain.

Jesse Norman: The latest economic assessment of the benefits of onshore wind in the Scottish islands was made in 2013. The UK Government and the Scottish Government appointed Baringa Partners (incorporating Redpoint Energy) and TNEI to undertake an independent study to assess whether Scottish Island Renewables could make a cost effective contribution to meeting the UK’s renewable energy targets. The Scottish Islands Renewable Project report was published on 14 May 2013 and can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/199038/Scottish_Islands_Renewable_Project_Baringa_TNEI_FINAL_Report_Publication_version_14May2013__2_.pdf

Energy: Meters

Mr Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to publish an updated impact assessment for the smart meter programme.

Jesse Norman: The Government intends to publish an updated cost-benefit analysis for the rollout of smart meters shortly.

Ministry of Defence

Ministry of Defence: Scotland

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 25 October 2016 to Question 49363, what the technical issue which triggered the revise or confirm offer procedure was; and if he will make a statement.

Harriett Baldwin: As the procurement process is ongoing and the contract is yet to be awarded, further information relating to the revise or confirm offer process is considered to be commercially sensitive and we are unable to provide any information regarding the technical issue at this time.

Ukraine: Military Aid

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much funding has been allocated to the East Europe and Central Asia Conflict, Stability and Security Fund budget-funded teams delivering training to build the capability and resilience of the Ukrainian armed forces since the launch of that fund.

Mike Penning: The Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) has allocated some £5.4million over the last two financial years to deliver defensive training through Operation Orbital to build the capabilities and resilience of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Armed Forces: Foreign Nationals

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many trained regular Commonwealth nations armed forces personnel joined the (a) Army, (b) Royal Air Force and (c) Royal Navy in each year since 2010.

Mike Penning: The requested information is provided in the table below:  Intake of personnel from Commonwealth countries to UK Regular Forces, by Service, in each calendar year since 2010  201020112012201320142015Royal Navy/Royal Marines804070504010Of which, trained~~-~--   Army35061066051010070Of which, trained10101010-10   Royal Air Force10~1010~10Of which, trained-~-~--   Notes1. UK Regular Forces comprise Full-time personnel but do not include Gurkhas or Full Time Reserve Service personnel.2. Intake to UK Regular Forces Comprises new entrants, re-entrants, direct trained entrants (including Professionally Qualified Officers) and intake from the Reserves. It excludes all movements within the Regular Forces; including flows from the untrained to trained strength, transfers between Services and flows from Ranks to Officer due to promotion.3. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10, and numbers ending in 5 have been rounded to the nearest 20 to avoid systematic bias. Totals and sub-totals have been rounded separately and may not equal the sum of their rounded parts. Zero is represented as ‘-‘ and numbers which are 5 or fewer are represented as ‘~’.

Veterans: Disability

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to support armed forces veterans who are disabled or have a long-term health condition.

Mark Lancaster: The NHS in England and the Devolved Administrations provide healthcare for all veterans, including those with disabilities and long-term health conditions. Specific services are in place to meet mental health and prosthetic needs. For details of some of the most recent improvements the Government has made to ensure that seriously injured veterans receive the care and support they deserve I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement on ‘Veterans Healthcare’ I made on 13 July 2016 (HCWS86). http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2016-07-13/HCWS86/ All veterans, including those who are disabled or have a long term health condition, are able to access the support offered by the Veterans UK helpline and website and the Veterans Welfare Service.



Veterans Healthcare
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Gurkhas

Matthew Pennycook: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that retired Gurkhas and their families settled in the UK have access to adequate welfare support and advice.

Mark Lancaster: The Ministry of Defence is determined to ensure that veterans who require help are provided with appropriate support including through the Veterans UK helpline. In addition to the support offered to all former personnel and their families by Veterans UK, former Gurkhas and their families can utilise the support offered by the Gurkha Welfare Advice Centres based in Salisbury and Aldershot. The purpose of the centres is to assist in the coordination of benevolence and welfare for retired Gurkhas in the UK by working closely with Government Departments, Service charities and other agencies in order to support those in need. More detail can be found at: http://www.army.mod.uk/gurkhas/27785.aspx As announced in January 2015, the Government awarded £960,000 through the Armed Forces Covenant Veterans' Accommodation Fund to Gurkha Homes Limited to provide 32 homes for Gurkha veterans.

Russia: Military Exercises

Craig Tracey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential implications of Russia's military manoeuvres in Eastern Europe and through the English Channel for (a) UK and (b) NATO security policy.

Mike Penning: Russia’s increased military activity on land, sea, and in the air, including on NATO’s eastern border and their carrier task group passing through the English Channel is concerning and reflects Russia’s more aggressive stance. NATO has shown, through its renewed focus on deterrence and defence, as reiterated at the recent meeting of Alliance Defence Ministers, that it is ready to respond to this, and reaffirmed its commitment to the collective defence of its members.

Ministry of Defence: Temporary Employment

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on agency workers in each of the last five years.

Mark Lancaster: The amount spent on agency workers in each of the last five years is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Military Exercises

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which environmental impact assessments have been made of each of the Operation Joint Warrior military exercises since 2009.

Mark Lancaster: The Department conducts an Environmental and Sustainability Impact Assessment prior to each JOINT WARRIOR Exercise in accordance with all applicable conservation legislations. These assessments are published on the JOINT WARRIOR website prior to each exercise.http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/qhm/clyde/jw

Reserve Forces: Emergencies

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what tasks he has assigned to reserve forces to assist the civil powers in emergencies.

Mike Penning: The Ministry of Defence assigns the most appropriate personnel from across the Armed Forces when support from the civil authorities is requested, including reserve forces. As set out in the Reserves White Paper we have widened the opportunity for Reservists to contribute on both civil and military operations. For example, Defence deployed Reservists during the 2015-2016 flood response in support of the police and within the command and control network.

Baltic States: Armed Forces

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what British armoured component is planned for the NATO deployment to the Baltic states.

Mike Penning: Our Framework Battalion in Estonia will be a defensive, but combat capable force, and is likely to include armoured Infantry equipped with Warrior armoured fighting vehicles, tactical UAVs, and a troop of our Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks.

Armed Forces: Civil Proceedings

Stuart Andrew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress the Government has made on protecting the armed forces from persistent legal claims.

Mark Lancaster: We recently announced our intention for the UK to derogate from the relevant Articles of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) in future conflicts, whenever the conditions for doing so are met. This will help protect our military personnel from ECHR-based legal claims, allowing them to take difficult decisions on the battlefield and enable us to spend more of our growing defence budget on equipment rather than lawyers’ fees. We will announce further measures in due course.

Defence: Expenditure

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Government plans to maintain its NATO commitment to spend 2 per cent of GDP on defence.

Sir Michael Fallon: Yes. The UK faces complex and challenging international and domestic security threats, which is why we have committed to spending 2% of our GDP on defence every year of this decade.Before this commitment the defence budget (in 2014-15) was £34.4 billion and it will rise to almost £40 billion by 2021.

Type 26 Frigates

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress has been made on the order for Type 26 frigates.

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans for construction of the Type 26 frigates to begin.

Harriett Baldwin: I refer the hon. Members to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Defence Secretary on 4 November 2016 (HCSW237). The Type 26 Programme will deliver a new generation of cutting-edge warships for our Royal Navy at best value for taxpayers. The UK Government’s commitment will secure hundreds of high-skilled shipbuilding jobs on the Clyde for at least two decades and hundreds more in the supply chain across Britain.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Small Businesses: Non-domestic Rates

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many small businesses in (a) Hornsey and Wood Green constituency and (b) London have claimed small business rate relief in the latest period for which figures are available.

Mr Marcus Jones: Local authority estimates held by the Department show that as of 31 December 2014, 2182 rateable properties were in receipt of small business rate relief in the London Borough of Haringey, in which the Hornsey and Wood Green constituency is located. In London, 60824 properties were in receipt of small business rate relief at the same date. The Department does not hold data at constituency level.

Small Businesses: Non-domestic Rates

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to review the level of small business rate relief.

Mr Marcus Jones: At Budget the Government announced the biggest ever cut in business rates worth over £6 billion and benefitting half of all non-domestic properties from April 2017.The Government is permanently doubling the level of Small Business Rate Relief and increasing the thresholds. Eligible properties with a rateable value of £12,000 and below will receive 100% relief. This means that 600,000 small businesses will pay no business rates at all. Eligible businesses with a property with a rateable value between £12,000 and £15,000 will receive tapered relief.

Housing: Older People

David Mackintosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the adequate provision of housing for older people across all housing types and tenures.

Gavin Barwell: The Government believes that building more affordable homes for everyone, whatever their age, will lead to a housing market that works for all. That’s why we have doubled the housing budget. We now have the largest affordable housing programme for 40 years, with £8 billion set aside to help build 400,000 affordable homes over the next five years.Under the National Planning Policy Framework, local authorities must plan for everyone in their community. That means that Local Plans should address the needs of older people as well as those of families and other households. In recognition of demographic changes related to our ageing society, we also recommend that Local Plans be drawn up over an appropriate time scale, preferably a 15-year time horizon, to take account of longer-term requirements.We recognise that every local authority faces different challenges and our guidance reflects that. Where there is evidence of specific, good-quality interventions, which would ensure better provision of housing specifically for older people, these should be explored.

Shared Ownership Schemes

Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to improve the supply of shared equity affordable housing in (a) Peterborough and (b) England; and if he will make a statement.

Gavin Barwell: Holding answer received on 04 November 2016



We are committed to supporting people into home ownership through shared equity. Help to Buy Equity Loan supports prospective home buyers purchasing a new-build home and Shared Ownership enables purchasers to buy a share in a new build property and pay a controlled rent on the remainder. Both are available to prospective buyers in Peterborough and across England via Help to Buy Agents.

Landlords: Registration

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what progress has been made on drawing up a register of rogue landlords.

Gavin Barwell: The Housing and Planning Act 2016 introduced a package of measures to help local authorities crack down on rogue landlords, including a database of rogue landlords and property agents. The database is currently being developed and we expect it to become operational in Autumn 2017.

Housing: Construction

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to encourage developers to offer optional eco-friendly extras in new-build properties.

Gavin Barwell: Building regulations set stretching minimum standards including on sustainability issues like energy efficiency and water efficiency. However developers can build to higher standards if they choose. The Government is always encouraged to see developers aspire to build to standards beyond building regulations where they choose to do so.

Private Rented Housing: Repairs and Maintenance

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy to strengthen the protections afforded to private rent tenants under section 4 of the Defective Premises Act 1972.

Gavin Barwell: All homes should be of a reasonable standard and all tenants should have a safe place to live regardless of tenure. Under the Housing Act 2004 and following an inspection under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, the local authority can serve a notice on the landlord to require improvements to a property.We have strengthened these measures through the Housing and Planning Act 2016 to take action against rogue landlords. These include a database of rogue landlords and property managers, banning orders, civil penalties of up to £30,000 and extended rent repayment orders.

Housing: Construction

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to the report of the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee, Building More Homes, HL 20, published on 15 July 2016, for what reasons there is a limit on the amount local authorities can borrow to invest in building houses.

Gavin Barwell: The borrowing caps were introduced as part of the Housing Revenue Account self-financing settlement, which entailed a once and for all rebalancing of housing debt. There are no plans to lift the caps, which are part of the government's strategy to manage the overall level of public debt.Local authorities do have the capacity to borrow to build new homes, there is nearly £3.4 billion headroom available nationally and £2.9 billion in reserves.

Land: Council Tax

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if the Government will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to allow local authorities to charge property developers council tax on land with planning permission on which buildings have not been constructed within a reasonable time.

Gavin Barwell: We are clear that sites which are granted planning permission should be built-out as quickly as possible. We believe the best way to achieve faster build out is for developers and authorities to work closely together, at a local level, to overcome any barriers to development. In addition the government is already taking steps to tackle delays in build out, for example, by taking forward measures through the Neighbourhood Planning Bill to improve the use of planning conditions. We have also launched the £3 billion Home Building Fund, a fund which will provide loans for SME builders, custom builders and offsite construction, and which will unlock large sites throughout England. Introducing financial penalties, such as additional council tax for slow build carries risks of unintended consequences, such as deterring applications on sites with marginal viability.

Housing: Older People

Kevin Hollinrake: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to consider the housing needs of older people as part of the forthcoming housing white paper.

Kevin Hollinrake: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the housing needs of older people and the demand for retirement housing.

Gavin Barwell: Government believes that building more affordable homes for people, whatever their age, will lead to a housing market that meets everyone's needs. That’s why we have doubled the housing budget. We now have the largest affordable housing programme for 40 years, with £8 billion set aside to help build 400,000 affordable homes over the next five years. The forthcoming White Paper will look at ways we can go further.The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that local authorities must plan for everyone in their community. This is because local authorities are best placed to consider what services, including retirement services, meet local needs. Local Plans should address the needs of older people as well as the needs of families and other households. In recognition of the challenges and opportunities presented by our ageing society, we recommend that Local Plans be drawn up over an appropriate time scale, preferably a 15-year time horizon, to take account of longer-term requirements.

HM Treasury

VAT: Small Businesses

Michelle Donelan: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of reducing the rate of VAT for small businesses.

Jane Ellison: At Budget 2016, the VAT registration threshold was increased so that businesses with a turnover of £83,000 and below do not have to register for VAT. This relieves many smaller businesses of the burdens associated with VAT.

Concentrix: Garston and Halewood

Maria Eagle: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people in Garston and Halewood constituency have had a tax credit claim stopped by Concentrix.

Maria Eagle: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what data HM Revenue and Customs and Concentrix have relied upon to identify fraud and error in tax credit claims.

Maria Eagle: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether HM Revenue and Customs plans to continue to use current data sources to identify fraud and error in tax credit claims in the future; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the cost and benefits of HM Revenue and Customs' employment of Concentrix to identify fraud and error in tax credit claims.

Maria Eagle: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure that HM Revenue and Customs adheres to section 16 of the Tax Credits Act 2002 in respect of the employment of Concentrix to identify fraud and error in tax credit claims.

Maria Eagle: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the accuracy and reliability of data sets used to identify fraud and error in tax credit claims.

Maria Eagle: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, why some tax credits have been stopped prior to recipients being asked to deal with apparent discrepancies in information about their claims.

Maria Eagle: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the reasons are for recipients of tax credits being erroneously told a (a) previous tenant of the recipient's property and (c) close family member was an undisclosed partner.

Maria Eagle: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which sources Concentrix used to inform its checking of fraud and error in tax credit claims.

Jane Ellison: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will be preparing regional analysis of tax credits claims and Mandatory Reconsideration requests, and this will be available in due course. The Concentrix workload is delegated by HMRC. The process for selecting claims for Concentrix compliance interventions is set out in sections A9 and A10 of the “specifications of requirement” annex of the Concentrix contract which can be found at: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/85d1b730-5e4e-4be8-ae4c-3ac1f359afc7 At Budget 2016, the Government published the most recent policy costings. This can be found in section B23 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/508147/PU1912_Policy_Costings_FINAL3.pdf. However, this is in the process of being updated to reflect the change in circumstances. Concentrix were most recently undertaking High Risk Renewals enquiries under section 18 of the Tax Credits Act 2002, under which the claimant needs to provide a declaration to show that they are entitled to receive tax credits. In these cases, the tax credits legislation places the onus on a claimant for ensuring that HMRC has the relevant information.HMRC uses a wide range of data including third party data as part of a wider strategy to tackle tax credits error and fraud‎. HMRC has successfully reduced tax credits error and fraud from 8.1% in 2010-11 to 4.8% in 2014-15 Where a discrepancy is detected, claimants are given 30 days to contact HMRC or provide the relevant information about their circumstances or household before making any decisions about their award. If after 30 days HMRC has had no contact, tax credit payments are either suspended or reduced. Often, claimants are required to submit information that had originally been requested as part of a Mandatory Reconsideration.As announced on 7th October, the National Audit Office will also be conducting an investigation into HMRC’s contract with Concentrix.

Treasury: Migrant Workers

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many citizens of non-UK EU countries work in his Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies.

Simon Kirby: All Government Departments are bound by legal requirements concerning the right to work in the UK and, in addition, the Civil Service Nationality Rules. Evidence of nationality is checked at the point of recruitment into the Civil Service as part of wider pre-employment checks, but there is no requirement on departments to retain this information beyond the point at which it has served its purpose.

Hinkley Point C Power Station and Trident Submarines

Patricia Gibson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the contracts relating to the provision of (a) Trident and (b) Hinkley Point are denominated in pounds, euros or dollars.

Mr David Gauke: The Hinkley Point C contract is denominated in pounds, and there has been no effect on the cost of the public purse as a result of the change in the value of the pound following the EU referendum. All of MOD’s direct contracts with industry on the Dreadnought programme are denominated in pounds sterling. Separately, a number of specific components for the programme are purchased under a UK Government arrangement with US Government; these purchases are made in US dollars.

Hinkley Point C Power Station and Trident Submarines

Patricia Gibson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the effect on the cost to the public purse of the (a) Trident renewal programme and (b) Hinkley Point contracts of the change in the value of the pound since the EU referendum.

Mr David Gauke: The Hinkley Point C contract is denominated in pounds, and there has been no effect on the cost of the public purse as a result of the change in the value of the pound following the EU referendum. The Ministry of Defence addresses the impact of short term variations in foreign exchange rates as part of the routine financial management of the Defence programme. This includes the forward purchase of foreign currency at agreed prices using services provided by the Bank of England and HM Treasury.

Pensions: Fraud

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the level of fraud linked to the use of pension lump sum payments.

Simon Kirby: The government takes the issue of pension scams very seriously and is currently considering ways to protect consumers from pension scammers.The government continues to monitor the pension freedom, and where evidence of specific issues come to light will not hesitate to act to protect consumers.

Enterprise Zones: Coleraine

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when his Department plans to clear all paperwork on the pilot Enterprise Zone near Coleraine, announced in 2014.

Mr David Gauke: In the 2013 economic pact between the UK government and the Northern Ireland Executive, ‘Building a Prosperous and United Community’, we agreed to consider designating a range of sites within any Northern Ireland Enterprise Zone as areas for Enhanced Capital Allowances, should the Executive propose them. This year, we delivered the necessary legislation to provide for Enhanced Capital Allowances in the Executive’s pilot Coleraine Enterprise Zone.

Department for International Trade

UK Trade with EU: Scotland

Dr Paul Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what proportion of products and produce exported from Scotland to the rest of the UK are passported for consumption in nations that are members of the EU.

Mark Garnier: The Department for International Trade does not hold such data. The Scottish Government (Export Statistics Scotland 2014) provides estimates of Scottish exports to the rest of the UK but it does not contain information on whether these products and produce are ultimately destined for other EU members.

Products: Scotland

Dr Paul Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what proportion of products and produce manufactured in Scotland are exported from Scotland to the rest of the UK.

Mark Garnier: In 2014 (latest year available), an estimated 44% of Scottish manufacturing exports were destined for the rest of the UK.(Source: Export Statistics Scotland 2014, Scottish Government)

Overseas Trade: Commonwealth

Chris Elmore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what plans he has to promote trade with other Commonwealth nations.

Mark Garnier: We already enjoy excellent trading relationships with our Commonwealth partners and we are committed to strengthening these further. In March 2017, the UK is co-hosting, with Malta, the inaugural Commonwealth Trade Ministers’ Meeting in London. This will be an excellent opportunity to promote greater trade and investment within the Commonwealth.We will further strengthen our relations through bilateral engagement and the range of activities and support we offer globally such as trade fairs, events, missions, and bespoke support for individual businesses. In addition, UK Export Finance has significant appetite to help exporters win, fulfil and get paid for business in Commonwealth nations, and welcomes new applications for support.

South Africa: Trade Promotion

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, when the Government plans to appoint a new trade envoy to South Africa.

Mark Garnier: The Prime Minister and the Department for International Trade are currently reviewing the Trade Envoy programme. South Africa remains of critical importance to the UK and is a market with which we continue to have a strong bilateral relationship.

Women and Equalities

Government Equalities Office: Pay

Catherine West: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what proportion of women are employed by the Government Equalities Office on an inner London pay structure in the following pay grades (a) Administrative Assistant, (b) Administrative Office, (c) Executive Office, (d) Higher Executive Office, (e) Fast Streamer, (f) Senior Executive Officer, (g) Grade Seven, (h) Grade Six, (i) Senior Civil Service Band 1, (j) Senior Civil Service Band 1A, (k) Senior Civil Service Band 2 and (l) Senior Civil Service Band 3.

Caroline Dinenage: The Department for Education and the Government Equalities Office do not have an inner London pay zone.

Department for Transport

Pollution: Seas and Oceans

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his policy is on securing access to (a) pollution notifications delivered by the European Maritime Safety Agency and (b) the EU's pollution prevention, response and intervention data after the UK has left the EU.

Mr John Hayes: The Government remains committed to protecting the seas from pollution from shipping, and we will continue to meet our international obligations in this regard. We will continue to work alongside the Department for Exiting the European Union, which has the responsibility for leading the negotiations for leaving the EU, and the future relationship between the UK and the EU.

Public Transport: Electric Vehicles

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to recent research on pollution particles potentially triggering Alzheimer's and other degenerative diseases, whether his Department has re-assessed the potential merits of measures to expand the use of electric-powered public transport.

Mr John Hayes: The Government is committed to a move towards zero emission road transport. This includes cars as well as other vehicles, such as buses. Our £30m Low Emission Bus Scheme is funding the delivery of over 320 Low Emission Buses – of which 86 are fully electric buses – from 2016 to 2019. A further £3.2m worth of supporting infrastructure will be funded under the scheme. The Departments for Transport and for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs are working closely with the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants, the Department for Health and Public Health England to consider all evidence on the medical impacts of air pollution. Our daily air quality forecasts provide health messages to the public based on the expertise of Public Health England.

High Speed 2 Railway Line: Birmingham Airport

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the potential proportion of High Speed 2 journeys that will be taken by passengers who plan to fly through Birmingham International Airport.

Andrew Jones: The Department has not made a specific estimate of the proportion of High Speed 2 journeys that will be taken by passengers planning to fly through Birmingham International Airport. Modelling has estimated the number of passengers that will board HS2 trains at Birmingham Interchange in the future but does not specify what proportion of these will come from Birmingham Airport, the National Exhibition Centre or the existing rail station.

Bus Services

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 26 October 2016 to Question 49208, for what reasons statistics on supported bus service mileage by local authorities are not available for periods earlier than 2013-14.

Andrew Jones: Data on local authority supported mileage is available for the years 2013/14, 2014/15 and 2015/16. In line with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics, statistics should be produced to a level of quality that meets users’ needs. Data on local authority supported mileage, prior to 2013/14, have not been published by the Department because of concerns about the robustness of the data. Data on supported mileage, at the national level, from 1987/88 to 2015/16 is available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/560579/bus0205.ods

Airports: Exhaust Emissions

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Government is taking to encourage the take-up of electric and low emission vehicles by airport staff on airport-owned land.

Mr John Hayes: The Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) offers comprehensive support for businesses and private motorists taking up ultra low emission vehicles. Assistance includes grants for eligible cars and vans, as well as schemes to part-fund the installation of electric vehicle chargepoints at homes and workplaces. OLEV engages regularly with businesses in a variety of sectors, to highlight the economic and environmental benefits of ultra low emission vehicles for their fleets and for their employees. We are pleased to note the steps being taken by airports across the country to encourage uptake and reduce vehicle emissions. These include the installation of rapid chargepoints at Birmingham Airport, Heathrow’s use of more than 850 electric vehicles in its airside fleet, and Gatwick’s introduction of an electric car sharing service for staff and passengers.

Driving Instruction

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what (a) Highways Agency and (b) Highways England funding has been allocated to the Driver Education Budget in each of the last 10 years.

Mr John Hayes: There is no available data for the historical level of funding prior to 2014, driver education expenditure was subsumed within wider project costs and the information cannot be readily extracted. We are therefore not able to provide funding information relating to each and every year in the last ten years.

Taxis: Licensing

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what powers local authorities possess to effectively regulate private hire vehicles that operate outside of their primary licensing area.

Andrew Jones: Local licensing authorities in England and Wales have a duty to ensure that any person or organisation to whom they grant a PHV operator’s licence is ‘fit and proper’ to hold such a licence. The same duty is required when granting a PHV driver licence. Furthermore, once a licence has been issued, licensing authorities should have systems in place, including links with the police and other licensing authorities, to ensure that drivers and operators continue to be ‘fit and proper’. All PHV bookings, including those received by a sub-contracting arrangement, must be fulfilled by licensed PHV operators using licensed drivers and vehicles, all of whom have met their local licensing standards. The original operator who takes the booking will retain responsibility for the journey, and both the original operator and the operator who fulfils the booking will be under a duty to keep records of the booking and the relevant enforcement authorities will be able to check those records. The sharing of information between licensing authorities is encouraged and the licence issuing authority can investigate complaints against a driver regardless of where the driver was working at the time. Local licensing authorities are also able to delegate powers to each other to help deal with issues such as taxis operating as private hire vehicles outside their licence area. For example, in Merseyside five licensing authorities have agreed a concordat allowing each other to enforce against all the vehicles and drivers licensed by the five areas.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Somalia: Elections

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment the Government has made of whether the ongoing election process in Somalia is free and fair; and if he will take steps to encourage the government of Somalia to increase the number of Somalian people able to vote in that election.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: ​Somalia is in transition and partway through an electoral process due to culminate with the election of a new President by 30 November. It is vital that the process is transparent, credible and safe; and that commitments to make the process more inclusive, including increasing female representation, are fully respected. The 2016 process is a stepping stone to one person one vote elections scheduled for 2020. It builds on the 2012 process where only 135 elders voted; this year over 14,000 will vote, and the voting will take place beyond Mogadishu.

Ethiopia: Arrests and Press Freedom

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to address the recent arbitrary arrests and the media shut down in Ethiopia.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We are concerned by reports of large numbers of arrests in Ethiopia and by restrictions on communication and media usage. We are urging the Government of Ethiopia to respect human rights, and the safeguards around transparency provided for in the Constitution, as it implements the State of Emergency declared on 9 October. We have been clear that continued police repression, and refusal to allow peaceful protest and space for political discussion, will fuel unrest and instability.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Elections

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking in response to President Kabila of Democratic Republic of Congo delaying elections in that county with an explanation that one of the reasons is a lack of EU funding for those elections.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: President Kabila’s explanation that the delay of Presidential elections is due to the lack of international financial support is incorrect. The primary reason why they are being delayed is the failure of President Kabila and his government to take the necessary steps to deliver elections on time, in accordance with the Democratic Republic of Congo’s constitution and the obligations he has to the Congolese people.Independent experts have confirmed that Presidential elections in 2017 are possible. The EU stands ready to provide financial support for a transparent election process based on an inclusive political agreement and a clear timetable approved by stakeholders, provided that all the conditions set out in the Constitution and in UN Security Council Resolution 2277 are met. The UK has earmarked £11.4 million to support the electoral process, which will be disbursed under similar conditions. A number of other nations, including the US, have made similar pledges.On 20 September, I made a statement urging the need for a date for Presidential elections in 2017 to be announced as soon as possible; this can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/tobias-ellwood-minister-for-middle-east-and-africa-calls-on-drc-government-to-set-election-date.

Middle East: Conflict, Stability and Security Fund

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the budget was for projects in (a) Israel and (b) the Palestinian territories within the Conflict, Security and Stability Fund in the 2015-16.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: ​The total allocation for 2015-16 for both Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) was £7m. It was not separated into individual, distinct budgets as some of our projects and implementing partners delivered simultaneously in both Isreal and the OPTs.

Middle East: Security

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Gulf Cooperation Council and (b) governments of other countries on plans to improve security in the Middle East.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Mr Johnson) speaks on a regular basis with members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, as well as international partners such as the US and EU Member States, to discuss the full range of security issues in the Middle East.

Middle East: Overseas Aid

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much funding the Government is providing to each (a) Israeli and (b) Palestinian non-governmental organisation through the (i) Conflict, Security and Stability Fund and (ii) bilateral programme budget in 2016-17.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: ​​I refer the Rt Hon. Member to my answers of 24 October 2016 (PQ 49493) and 27 October 2016 (PQ 49939).

Department for International Development

Developing Countries: HIV Infection

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of the need to tackle HIV and AIDS in its youth strategy.

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what account her Department's Youth Strategy takes of the mortality rate among adolescents and young people of AIDs.

James Wharton: DFID’s Youth Agenda puts young people front and centre in the fight against global poverty. We are committed to working with young people, supporting them to be agents and advocates of change.The UK is very concerned that adolescents are the only group, among HIV-affected populations, whose mortality figures are not decreasing. Many young people still lack access to information and services for sexual and reproductive health. In many countries, policies and laws explicitly exclude young people from sexual and HIV-related services.The UK is committed to integrate the HIV response across all sectors for a truly comprehensive approach to end AIDS by 2030. Our work supports countries to find ways to enable safe, healthy and informed choices.

Department for International Development: Working Hours

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many officials of her Department have opted out of the EU Working Time Directive.

Rory Stewart: We have no record of any individuals employed by DFID who have opted out of the EU Working Time Directive.

Developing Countries: HIV Infection

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what priority her Department's strategy on women and girls accords to tackling HIV and AIDS.

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what account her Department's Strategic Vision on Women and Girls takes of the mortality rate among women of a reproductive age in Sub Saharan Africa from AIDs.

James Wharton: HIV affects girls and women disproportionately, and a world without AIDS depends on a world where a girl’s rights and opportunities are protected. Until countries can work together to strengthen the sexual and reproductive rights of girls and women and deliver the services they need we will never achieve greater gender equality or end the AIDS epidemic.AIDS is the leading cause of death for women of reproductive age - with an estimated 330,000 AIDS related deaths in sub-Saharan Africa in 2015 alone. This is why universal sexual and reproductive health and rights is a central pillar of DFID’s Strategic Vision. As a leading champion of sexual reproductive health and rights DFID takes the broadest possible definition which supports the integration of HIV with family planning and other SRHR services.With UK support, gender equality is now a major pillar of the Global Fund’s Strategic Framework. The Global Fund invests an estimated 55-60% of its resources in programmes and services that reach women and children. DFID is also supporting the generation of new evidence to improve outcomes for women and girls, including supporting the development of female initiated HIV prevention technologies.

Developing Countries: Microfinance

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, in which countries and for how many projects her Department provides microloans to local communities or small businesses.

Rory Stewart: DFID does not track microloans separately from other financial inclusion programmes. DFID’s total investment in financial inclusion programmes is more than £426 million as of July 2016. The portfolio has a wide geographic spread with a focus on Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. DFID focuses on ways to make business easier for micro and small enterprises to support growth and jobs, as opposed to a specific focus on microlending.One of the best examples of our work with small businesses is DFID’s anchor investment of £75m in the Global Small and Medium Size Enterprise (SME) Finance Initiative established in 2012 along with other investors. As of June 2016, the programme had contributed to nearly £3.5bn of commercial loans supporting nearly 66,000 SMEs in 26 countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Mozambique and Bangladesh. The programme has a particular focus on increasing finance to women-headed SMEs.

Department for International Development: Migrant Workers

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many citizens of non-UK EU countries work in her Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies.

Rory Stewart: All Government Departments are bound by legal requirements concerning the right to work in the UK and, in addition, the Civil Service Nationality Rules.Evidence of nationality is checked at the point of recruitment into the Civil Service as part of wider pre-employment checks, but there is no requirement on departments to retain this information beyond the point at which it has served its purpose.More broadly, the Government will be consulting in due course on how we work with business to ensure that workers in this country have the skills that they need to get a job. But there are no proposals to publish lists of the number or proportion of foreign workers.

Free Trade: Africa

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of launching a second phase of the Africa Free Trade initiative after the UK has left the EU.

James Wharton: More trade is essential in order to promote economic growth and reduce poverty. Promoting trade in Africa offers tremendous opportunities, both to African and British businesses. Now and after leaving the EU, the UK will continue the work started by the African Free Trade initiative to support trade in Africa by providing assistance to improve infrastructure, cut red tape and harmonise regulations, and increase businesses’ capacity to export.

Free Trade: Africa

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what her policy is on the development of an African Union Continental Free Trade Area.

James Wharton: The UK is firmly supportive of the aims of the Continental Free Trade Area. The creation of a single continental market for goods and services, the expansion of intra-African trade, and enhanced competitiveness of industry will all help to boost economic growth, reduce poverty and strengthen UK trade and investment opportunities.The timetable for establishing the CFTA is ambitious and we would encourage the AU and African countries not to lose sight of the need to strengthen implementation of existing agreements, especially on trade facilitation.

Developing Countries: HIV Infection

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will undertake a stocktake review of her Department's bilateral HIV programmes to assess gaps and shortcomings of her Department's response compared to its international commitments.

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will conduct a review of her Department's HIV and AIDS programmes to ensure her Department is meeting its international commitments to ending AIDS, as a public health threat by 2030.

James Wharton: The UK’s pledge of £1.1 billion to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria makes us the second largest donor during the fifth replenishment period. This support will help provide enough lifesaving anti-retroviral therapy for 1.3 million people living with HIV. As an international leader on HIV we will use our influence to ensure the world delivers on the global commitment to end AIDS by 2030.The 2013 review of the 2011 UK HIV Position Paper ‘Towards Zero Infections’ identified the integration of HIV with wider development needs as a key strategic priority and we have no plans for a separate further review of the UK’s HIV response.

Developing Countries: HIV Infection

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, on what principles her Department invests in HIV/AIDS programmes.

James Wharton: UK investments in the HIV response are based on international best practice set out by UNAIDS and principles that support:Integrated country-owned approaches while strengthening health systems;Reducing new infections, particularly among key affected populations, including adolescents, girls and women;Evidence and rights-based public health measures that combine prevention and access to treatment, while tackling the wider issues of stigma, discrimination and gender inequality that drive infection.The guiding principle is “know your epidemic, know your response”: tailoring HIV interventions to the particular epidemic in any given place.

Southern Africa: Droughts

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what progress the Government has made on work with the US and the UN to respond to the request from the President of Botswana on behalf of SADC for funding to deal with the drought in Southern Africa.

James Wharton: The UK has contributed more than £170 million to respond to the impact of El Nino in Southern Africa. DFID chaired a high level roundtable on 14 July where we asked other donors to increase their funding, called on the UN and SADC countries to take stronger leadership and encouraged the World Bank and private sector to play a greater role in stabilising the markets.DFID has continued to urge others to scale up their contributions. This has included bilateral calls with donors and the co-hosting of a donor roundtable with the US which agreed priorities for advocacy and action to address the drought on 16 September in Pretoria.

Developing Countries: HIV Infection

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the percentage change there was in spending by her Department on programmes coded under HIV treatment, prevention and care in each year since 2012-13; and what the percentage change in such spending is projected to be between 2015-16 and 2016-17.

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many of her Department's programmes that contribute to HIV prevention, treatment and care are planned to close in 2016-17; and what the value of those projects is.

James Wharton: The UK, as a member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) Development Assistance Committee (DAC), is committed to transparent reporting of development assistance. Details of DFID expenditure can be found in Statistics on International Development GPEX tables, available on our website at: www.gov.uk/government/statistics?departments%5B%5D=department-for-international-development.DFID is in the process of developing our plans to 2020, so future spending has not yet been determined. The UK has made a £1.1 billion pledge to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria for the 5th replenishment 2017-2019 which will support the firm commitment to end the AIDS epidemic as a public health threat by 2030.

Israel: Palestinians

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of her Department's budget for Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories is spent on coexistence projects.

Rory Stewart: The UK is supportive of coexistence (people-to-people) projects which bring together Palestinians and Israelis and foster inter-community understanding. The Secretary of State is currently assessing options for providing further support to coexistence programmes.

Israel: Palestinians

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of the financial assistance provided to (a) projects through the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund and (b) bilateral programme budgets funds projects which promote coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians.

Rory Stewart: The UK is supportive of coexistence (people-to-people) projects which bring together Palestinians and Israelis and foster inter-community understanding. The UK has supported a number of cross-border coexistence projects previously and currently provides £400,000 to support a programme aiming to foster constituencies for peace inside Israel through the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund. The Secretary of State is currently assessing options for providing further support to coexistence programmes.

Department for Education

Higher Education: West Midlands

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many school leavers in (a) Warley constituency and (b) Sandwell who went to university in the last five years for which figures are available were (i) entitled and (ii) not entitled to free school meals.

Joseph Johnson: Information is given on the number and percentage of students completing key stage 5 study (A level and other level 3 qualifications) in mainstream state-funded schools and colleges, before progressing to study at a UK higher education institution for at least two terms the following year, in each of the last five years for which information is available. Free school meal eligibility is as recorded when students were in Year 11.The table below show figures for the Warley constituency for the years 2010/11 to 2014/15. Numbers of pupils are shown rounded to the nearest ten, in line with how published information was shown in these years. Percentages are calculated using unrounded figures.In each of the last five years, 20 to 60 students in the Warley constituency (rounded to the nearest ten), who had been eligible for free school meals in Year 11 and completed key stage 5 study, progressed to higher education. This compares to between 140 and 190 students who had not been eligible for free school meals. Due to the small numbers of students involved, these proportions have varied year on year.Comparable information on pupil destinations for Sandwell is published annually at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-destinations  Number of students completing KS5Number at UK Higher Education Institution% at UK Higher Education Institution (calculated on unrounded figures)(rounded to nearest 10)(rounded to nearest 10)FSMNon-FSMFSMNon-FSMFSMNon-FSM2014/15 (2013/14 KS5 cohort)903006019065%65%2013/14 (2012/13 KS5 cohort)703404019057%56%2012/13 (2011/12 KS5 cohort)602503014056%56%2011/12 (2010/11 KS5 cohort)902806018065%63%2010/11 (2009/10 KS5 cohort)402102015047%70%

Apprentices: Gender

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she plans to encourage public sector employers to set gender targets when recruiting apprentices.

Robert Halfon: The Government has not set gender targets for the public sector when recruiting apprentices. Public sector organisations should adhere to employment and equalities legislation when recruiting apprentices.

Children: Day Care

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much funding per head is received for childcare in (a) Barnsley East constituency, (b) Barnsley, (c) Yorkshire and the Humber and (d) the UK in the latest period for which figures are available.

Caroline Dinenage: Funding for the free early years entitlements is allocated on a local authority basis. In 2016-17[1], the relevant hourly funding rates per child were as follows: Local authorityThree and four year old entitlementTwo year old entitlementBarnsley£3.99£4.85Bradford£5.19£4.85Calderdale£4.15£4.85Doncaster£3.87£4.85East Riding of Yorkshire£4.40£4.85Kingston upon Hull, City of£4.20£4.85Kirklees£4.37£4.85Leeds£4.09£4.85North East Lincolnshire£3.72£4.85North Lincolnshire£4.39£4.85North Yorkshire£4.49£4.85Rotherham£4.07£4.85Sheffield£4.51£4.85Wakefield£4.14£4.85York£3.63£4.85In 2016-17, the national average hourly funding rates paid by the Department for Education to local authorities in England is £4.51 for three and four year olds and £5.09 for two-year-olds. All funding rates for three and four year olds are exclusive of the Early Years Pupil Premium which is an additional funding stream for disadvantaged children. The figures given above relate to England. Childcare policy for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales is devolved. [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dedicated-schools-grant-dsg-2016-to-2017

Children: Day Care

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the amount and proportion of funding for the free childcare entitlement which is currently retained by local authorities to support wider early years work.

Caroline Dinenage: Data from local authority planned spend for 2016-17 shows that nationally local authorities plan to centrally retain 7% (£149 million) of their delegated budget for three and four year olds and 7% (£36m) for the two year old entitlement. The total local authority delegated budget for three and four year olds is £2.3 billion and £523 million for two year olds. This excludes the planned budget for the early years pupil premium. This data is as reported by the local authorities. Our recent consultation on changes to funding for three- and four-year-olds proposed that all local authorities must pass 93% in 2017-18 then 95% in 2018-19 of early years funding to providers. This would maximise funding to the frontline.

Archaeology and Classics: Education

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many people have taken (a) archaeology and (b) classical civilisation at GCSE and A-level in each of the last 10 years.

Nick Gibb: There has been no GCSE qualification in archaeology since 2009.In 2015/16, there were 340 entries to A level archaeology, of which 26 were from state-funded schools, 8 were from independent schools and 306 were from FE colleges.Please see the tables below for the number of entries to A level archaeology from 2006/07 to 2015/16 and for GCSE from 2006/07 to 2008/09.A level1 entries in Archaeology by institution type   Years 2006/07 to 2015/162  Coverage: EnglandArchaeology A levelNumber of entriesState funded schoolsIndependent schoolsFE collegesTotal   2006/075126380457   2007/084929326404   2008/093719366422   2009/104022409471   2010/113711324372   2011/124421410475   2012/134210401453   2013/143813317368   2014/15369344389   2015/163 (provisional)268306340  Source 2015/16 16-18 attainment data (provisional)1. Covers examination results of students aged 16, 17 or 18 at the start of the academic year, i.e. 31 August.2. Figures for 2016 are provisional; figures for all other years are final.3. From 2016, for accountability purposes results are allocated to the provider where the student has enrolled to take their main programme of study, recorded in the school census or Individual Learner Record (ILR). The ILR has been used as additional data source from 2016, and this leads to very small differences in the student exam results included.GCSE1 entries in Archaeology, all schools  Years 2006/07 to 2008/09 Coverage: England   Archaeology GCSENumber of entries  2006/0736  2007/086  2008/093 Source: KS4 attainment dataCovers pupils at the end of key stage 4 A levels and GCSEs in classical civilisation will continue to be offered by an exam board other than AQA.The number of GCSE entries for classical civilisation is published in the GCSE and equivalent results statistical first release (SFR)[1].The number of A level entries in classical civilisation is published in the A level and equivalent results statistical first releases (SFR)[2]   [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/gcse-and-equivalent-results-2015-to-2016-provisional (subject time series tables)[2]https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/a-level-and-other-level-3-results-2015-to-2016-provisional (table 2a and subject time series tables)

Primary Education: West Sussex

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the level of performance in West Sussex in the 2016 Key Stage 2 results in (a) reading, (b) mathematics and (c) reading, writing and mathematics; and if she will rank all local authorities in England by performance in those subjects.

Nick Gibb: West Sussex County Council is ranked joint 49th lowest for the percentage of students reaching the expected standard in reading, joint 5th lowest for mathematics and joint 5th lowest in reading, mathematics and writing combined. The information that you requested is given in the table below shows Key stage 2 attainment in reading, mathematics and reading, writing and mathematics for West Sussex local authority and England (State-funded schools1). West SussexNumber of eligible pupils2Percentage reaching the expected standard3Percentage achieving a high score4Average scaled score5Reading8,2766420102Mathematics8,2766313102Reading, writing and mathematics8,276442Not Applicable England (state-funded schools)Number of eligible pupilsPercentage reaching the expected standardPercentage achieving a high scoreAverage scaled scoreReading586,3376619103Mathematics586,3107017103Reading, writing and mathematics586,181525Not ApplicableNotes:Figures for academies, free schools and CTCs are included in the individual LA figures and also in the total for England state-funded schools. Figures for hospital schools and pupil referral units are excluded.Includes pupils who have reached the end of key stage 2 in all of reading, writing and mathematics. Excludes pupils with lost test results but includes those with missing results and those with pending maladministration.Includes those pupils who reached the expected standard in all of reading, writing and mathematics. The expected standard in reading and mathematics is a scaled score of 100 or above. The expected standard in writing is a teacher assessment of 'working at the expected standard' (EXS) or 'working at greater depth within the expected standard' (GDS).Includes those pupils who reached a higher standard in all of reading, writing and mathematics. A higher standard is a scaled score of 110 or more in reading and mathematics and pupils assessed as working at greater depth within the expected standard (GDS) in writing.The average scaled score is calculated as the mean scaled score of all eligible pupils who were given a scaled score. Pupils not taking the test and those who took the test but were not given a scaled score are excluded.  The information given in the table is published at local authority and national level as part of the“National curriculum assessments: key stage 2, 2016 (provisional)” statistical first release (SFR)[1].[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-curriculum-assessments-key-stage-2-2016-provisional (Table L1 - Reading, writing and maths; Table L2 – reading and mathematics)

Young Offenders: Qualifications

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate her Department has made of the rate of attainment of (a) five good GCSEs and (b) further education qualifications by ex-young offenders; and what steps her Department is taking to ensure that such offenders achieve such qualifications in (i) Lewisham, Deptford constituency and (ii) England.

Robert Halfon: Data showing GCSE and further education results of young ex-offender pupils is not available.Young ex-offenders have the same entitlements and access to mainstream education provision as other young people, and are supported by local multi-agency Youth Offending Teams, that also support young people in Lewisham.In terms of next steps, Charlie Taylor recently completed his review of the youth justice system. Ministers are currently considering his report, and will publish it before the end of the year.

Students: Cambridge

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many students in Cambridge have completed courses funded by advanced learner loans in the last five years.

Robert Halfon: The following table shows the number of learners in the Cambridge local authority who have completed courses funded by Advanced Learner Loans: Academic yearCompletions2013/14402014/15602015/1650 Notes:- Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10.- 24+ Advanced Learning Loans were introduced in the 2013/14 academic year, and have been expanded to individuals aged 19+ starting in the 2016/17 academic year. They have subsequently been renamed to ‘Advanced Learner Loans’.

Students: Loans

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to encourage (a) further education institutions to apply for an advanced learner loans facility agreement with the Skills Funding Agency and (b) further education institutions to accept students funded by advanced learner loans.

Robert Halfon: There are currently 723 providers with an advanced learner loans facility. This includes further education colleges and others including, but not exclusively, independent providers. The figure is a result of the Skills Funding Agency enabling existing contracted providers, which have already passed the necessary reassurance to receive public money, to access a loans facility. The Skills Funding Agency has also undertaken targeted applications rounds to encourage other suitable providers to apply.

Students: Cambridge

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many further education institutions in Cambridge are in receipt of an advanced learner loans facility agreement with the Skills Funding Agency.

Robert Halfon: There are three main providers in receipt of an Advanced Learner Loans facility based in the Cambridge area. The two colleges and the local authority are Cambridge Regional College, Hills Road Sixth Form College and Cambridgeshire County Council. As of September 2016, the total value of the combined facilities and Bursary Fund allocations for the 2016/2017 year was £510,574, £25,622 and £5,944 respectively. The total does not include the number of national or other non-Cambridge based providers who may be operating in Cambridge.

Teachers: Training

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many trainees were recruited to the National College of Teaching and Leadership's teacher training programme in each year since that programme was introduced.

Caroline Dinenage: The Head of Profession for Statistics for the Department is currently reviewing the data collected on early years initial teacher training. We are unable to provide any data while this review is ongoing. It is intended that the first data will be published later this month.

Apprentices

Mr Adrian Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many learners have started more than one apprenticeship at the same level since April 2009.

Robert Halfon: Data is not held centrally in a way that is able to provide the requested information. However, findings from our research on prior qualifications show that 4% of intermediate apprentices and 5% of advanced apprentices declared they had completed an apprenticeship at the same level.

Apprentices: West Bromwich West

Mr Adrian Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) public and (b) private sector employers offered apprenticeships in West Bromwich West constituency in each year from 2010 to 2015.

Robert Halfon: Data is not collected centrally at the parliamentary constituency level.

Apprentices: West Bromwich West

Mr Adrian Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many people aged (a) 16 to 18, (b) 19 to 24 and (c) 25 and over are employed and training in apprenticeships in West Bromwich West constituency.

Robert Halfon: The table shows apprenticeship participation in 2015/16 (provisional) by age group for the West Bromwich West constituency: Age2015/16 (provisional)Under 1949019-2467025+990Total2,100 Notes:Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals are rounded to the nearest 100. A learner is participating in an academic year if their learning aim is active at any point during the relevant period.

Department for Education: Iron and Steel

Stephen Kinnock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate she has made of the level of procurement of British steel by her Department in the last 12 months.

Caroline Dinenage: The information is not centrally held in the form requested. Over the last year Government has acted to level the playing field for UK steel producers in light of the complex global challenges faced by the UK steel sector. Last December Government issued guidance to central government departments on how to ensure that they take full account of the value provided by UK steel producers when conducting their procurement activities. This guidance is also being extended to the wider public sector.

Universities: Employment

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of atypical employment contracts used by universities for (a) research and (b) teaching as a proportion of all employment contracts in that sector.

Joseph Johnson: The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) collects and publishes statistics on staff employed at UK higher education institutions (HEIs). The table below provides statistics on contract type by academic function on a Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) basis. FTE figures allow us to apportion a member of staff’s time where they hold more than one type of contract. There were 163,095 FTE members of academic staff at UK Higher Education Institutions in Academic Year 2014/15. Among these, 5,155 FTE members of academic staff were on atypical contracts. Percentages are provided in the table below. Full Time Equivalent Academic Staff Academic Function and Contract TypeUK Higher Education InstitutionsAcademic Year 2014/15Academic functionStaff with Atypical contractsAtypical as a % of All FTE academic staffTeaching only4,2503.4%Research only4000.3%Both teaching and research2750.2%Neither teaching nor research2350.2%Total5,1554.1%Source: HESA staff record 2014/15 Notes:- Figures are rounded to the nearest 5.- Staff full-time equivalent (FTE) is defined by the contract(s) of employment and is proportioned to each activity's cost centre. FTE indicates the proportion of a full-time year being undertaken over the course of the reporting period 1 August to 31 July. The FTE is therefore counted using a population of staff who were active during the reporting period, not just on a given snapshot date. Definitions:- Atypical staff are those whose working arrangements are not permanent, involve complex employment relationships and/or involve work away from the supervision of the normal work provider. Complete definition is available at https://www.hesa.ac.uk/support/definitions/staff#terms-employment

Arts: Secondary Education

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to increase uptake of creative subjects in secondary schools.

Nick Gibb: All schools, including academies and free schools, must provide a broad and balanced curriculum that promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at the school and of society. The national curriculum, which includes music, art and design, English, drama, dance, design & technology and computer science, is compulsory for maintained schools. Academies and free schools are not required to teach the national curriculum, but are required by their funding agreement to provide a broad and balanced curriculum. They can use their freedoms to innovate and build more stretching and tailored curricula, to meet the particular needs of their pupils or their local area or the particular ethos of the school. Between 2012-2016 the Government invested over £460 million in a diverse portfolio of music and arts education programmes that are designed to improve access to the arts for all children, regardless of their background, and to develop talent across the country.

Institute of Apprenticeships

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 24 October 2016 to Question 48981, what the staff numbers for the Institute for Apprenticeships will be in (a) 2017-18, (b) 2018-19 and (c) 2019-20.

Robert Halfon: We are currently developing the detailed structure of the Institute for Apprenticeships, and therefore we are not yet able to set out initial staff numbers for its launch in April 2017. Beyond April, staffing levels are likely to increase in future years if Parliament approves the Technical and Further Education Bill that was introduced last week.

Technology: Secondary Education

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to increase the take-up of technology-based subjects in secondary schools.

Nick Gibb: The Government introduced new Computing and Design and Technology (D&T) curricula in 2014, and we are reforming GCSE/A Level qualifications in these and other technology subjects such as electronics. Our reforms are bringing these subjects up to date, ensuring that they reflect the latest practice in industry, provide students with the knowledge needed to progress, and make them more appealing to young people. We are determined to put technical education on a par with academic education and University Technical Colleges (UTCs) have a role to play in achieving that goal. UTCs have been established to address skills gaps, providing a technical education to meet the needs of modern businesses. UTCs help develop the talents of students and offer them technical and hands-on practical education alongside their GCSEs and A-levels to equip them with the technical knowledge and professional skills employers demand. We remain committed to ensuring that more young people have access to high quality technical education.

Apprentices: West Midlands

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many people with a home postcode in (a) the West Midlands, (b) Birmingham and (c) Birmingham, Northfield constituency have undertaken an apprenticeship in each of the last 10 academic years.

Robert Halfon: The attached table shows how many apprenticeships were started in the West Midlands, Birmingham and the Birmingham Northfield constituency in each of the last 10 academic years. Different regional level data are published online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/558301/201516_OCT_Apps_Starts_by_Region_PCON_LEA_LA_E_D_Final_V1.3.xlsx



Numbers of apprenticeships started
(Excel SpreadSheet, 14.06 KB)

Department for Education: Pay

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of women are employed by her Department on an inner London pay structure in the following pay grades (a) Administrative Assistant, (b) Administrative Officer, (c) Executive Officer, (d) Higher Executive Officer, (e) Fast Streamer, (f) Senior Executive Officer, (g) Grade Seven, (h) Grade Six, (i) Senior Civil Service Band 1, (j) Senior Civil Service Band 1A, (k) Senior Civil Service Band 2 and (l) Senior Civil Service Band 3.

Caroline Dinenage: The Department for Education and the Government Equalities Office do not have an inner London pay zone.

Pre-school Education: Finance

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to paragraph 149 of her Department's consultation on an early years national funding formula, published in August 2016, how much supplementary funding each local authority will  receive for maintained nursery schools in each of the next two years; and whether that funding will be ring-fenced.

Caroline Dinenage: Maintained nursery schools make a very important contribution to social mobility. That is why, as we introduce new funding arrangements in the early years, we are providing local authorities with supplementary funding of £55m a year for maintained nursery schools for at least two years. This will provide stability by maintaining their current funding, and is part of our record investment in childcare – £6 billion per year by 2020.We will say more about the funding of maintained nursery schools later in the autumn in our response to the consultation on an Early Years National Funding Formula. And we will consult the sector on the future of maintained nursery schools in further detail, including on what happens after this two-year period, in due course.

Higher Education: Finance

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has to provide extra funds to higher education institutions after the UK leaves the EU in the event of a reduction in income from tuition fees paid by students from other EU countries.

Joseph Johnson: The publicly-funded higher education sector currently receives 2% of its total income from the fees of EU students, with some individual institutions receiving higher levels of funding. EU students make an important contribution to our universities and we want that to continue. Future arrangements for EU students and any effects on higher education institutions following the UK’s exit from the EU will need to be considered as part of wider discussions about the UK’s relationship with the EU.

Overseas Students: Fees and Charges

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate her Department has made of the tuition fees expected to be paid to UK universities by overseas (a) EU and (b) non-EU students in each of the next five years.

Joseph Johnson: In autumn 2015, as part of the Spending Review and Autumn Statement, the following estimates were published, based on forecasts by English universities. These forecasts only include English higher education institutions and do not separate out Home and EU students. English Higher Education InstitutionsForecasts of fee incomeAcademic Year 2015/16 – 2019/20 2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/20Total growthHome and EU students (£m)9,2009,70010,00010,20010,4001,300Non-EU income (£m)3,8004,2004,6004,7004,9001,000Source: English universities’ forecasts, Higher Education Funding Council of England (HEFCE). Figures may not sum due to rounding. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/479749/52229_Blue_Book_PU1865_Web_Accessible.pdf

Adoption

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the extent of the reduction in the number of children being adopted; and what steps she is taking to address that reduction.

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what research her Department has carried out into the number of disrupted adoptive placements in each of the last 10 years; and if she will publish the number of such placements.

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many adoptive families have applied to the Adoption Support Fund in the last 12 months; how much has been paid from that Fund during that time period; and how much has been paid out below the amount claimed in that time period.

Edward Timpson: The latest Statistical First Release (SFR) ‘Children looked after in England, including adoption, 2015 to 2016’ published by the Department for Education shows that to the year ending 31 March 2016, 4,690 children ceased to be looked after due to being adopted. This is less than the 5,360 in 2015 but is still higher than the 3,470 children ceasing to be looked after due to adoption in 2012. The SFR is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/556331/SFR41_2016_Text.pdf. To address this reduction, we are amending legislation through the Children and Social Work Bill to improve the way decisions about long-term care options are taken, so that adoption is always pursued when it is in a child’s best interests. The Government’s adoption strategy, which we published in March, sets out plans to redesign the whole adoption system to ensure that we have the foundations in place to build a lasting change that benefits children. The Department has funded research on adoption disruption numbers by Julie Selwyn, Dinithi Wijedasa and Sarah Meakings - titled ‘Beyond the adoption order: challenges, intervention, disruption’. This was published in April 2014 and looked at all children who were adopted from care in England between 1st April 2000 and 31st March 2011. The research can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/beyond-the-adoption-order-challenges-intervention-disruption The Department also publishes data each year on the number of children starting to be looked after who were in a previous permanence arrangement, as part of the above SFR. At 31 March 2016, local authority returns showed that this figure was 510. This is available in table C1 at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoption-2015-to-2016. This data was collected for the first time in 2014. We recognise that adoptive families need support and that is why we established the Adoption Support Fund (the Fund). Local Authorities made 5,873 applications to the Fund on behalf of 8,193 families during the period November 2015 – October 2016. During the same period (November 2015 – October 2016) £26,714,546.16 of funding was approved. Up until 6 October, applications were fully funded where they met the Fund’s criteria. Where an application is not eligible it would be returned to the local authority to review and amend to ensure that it meets the criteria of the Fund. Once an application is approved the total value requested from the Fund would be paid out in full to the local authority. On 6 October, we introduced a ‘fair access’ limit for the Fund: eligible applications of up to £5,000 will continue to be fully funded; exceptional cases can receive up to an additional £25,000 from the Fund where there is matched funding from the local authority.

Students: Housing

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to limit increases in the cost of student accommodation.

Joseph Johnson: Higher education institutions (HEIs) in England are independent and autonomous bodies. They are responsible for the management of their own internal affairs, including the provision and administration of student residential accommodation. This Department plays no direct role in the provision of student residential accommodation whether the accommodation is managed by universities or private sector organisations.

Leader of the House

English Votes for English Laws

Lady Hermon: To ask the Leader of the House, what estimate he has made of the cost of implementation of the English Votes for English Laws Standing Orders of the House of Commons; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Lidington: Government has not made a cost estimate for the implementation of English Votes for English Laws because it constitutes parliamentary business.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Newspaper Press: Regulation

Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the implications of bringing into effect section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013 for the protections and privileges granted under the Parliamentary Papers Act 1840; and if she will make a statement.

Matt Hancock: The government launched a consultation on 1 November 2016 to look at two issues: commencement of section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013; and Part 2 of the Leveson Inquiry. The consultation runs until 10 January 2017 and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-the-leveson-inquiry-and-its-implementation

Voluntary Work: Children

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many (a) participants and (b) people who have completed the National Citizenship Service received financial assistance for the £50 application fee since that service was introduced.

Mr Rob Wilson: Social mix is at the core of National Citizen Service. DCMS and NCS Trust take great care to ensure that all young people, regardless of background, are able to take part in the programme. The cost of participation is up to £50. Partial and full bursaries are provided on a means-tested basis for young people whose families are unable to meet the cost. NCS Trust was established in 2013. Between 2013 and 2015, NCS Trust data shows that 136,514 participants received some financial assistance. The completion rate for this group was in line with the national average with over 90% completing the programme. Data is not available for 2011-2012 when the programme was run by Cabinet Office.

Gaming Machines

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had on proposals to reduce the maximum bet per spin for fixed odds betting terminals to £2.

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of fixed odds betting terminals on the wider gambling industry.

Tracey Crouch: I announced a review of gaming machines and social responsibility measures on 24 October. This will include a close look at Fixed Odds Betting Terminals. This is the correct mechanism to look again at this issue. I have regular meetings with all interested parties on this and other related matters.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Waste Disposal: Domestic Appliances

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of local authority refuse collection points to dispose of white goods.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Every waste disposal authority is required to provide collection points for household waste including white goods. We recognise that there is a current issue with the treatment capacity for fridges. The Environment Agency is working at the local level to respond positively to requests for storage of fridges above site permit limits to help alleviate this pressure.

Birds of Prey: Conservation

Michelle Donelan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many pairs of hen harriers nested in the Bowland Fells and North Pennine Moors special protection areas for birds in each of the last five years.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The number of pairs of hen harriers that nested in the Bowland Fells and North Pennine Moors special protection areas (SPAs) are set out below:   Bowland Fells SPANorth Pennine Moors SPA201200201302201420201510201601

Soil: Carbon

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with her French counterpart on that country's global initiative to increase carbon levels in soil.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Secretary of State discussed this Government’s support for the COP21 Paris initiative to promote carbon levels in soil with French Agriculture, Agri-Food and Forestry Minister Stéphane Le Foll at a ‘Climate Friendly Landscapes’ meeting hosted by the Prince of Wales' International Sustainability Unit on 26 October.

Aarhus Convention

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether it is her policy for the Government to remain part of the UN ECE Aarhus Convention regardless of the outcome of the UK's negotiations to leave the EU.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Edinburgh North and Leith, Deidre Brock, on 26 July 2016, PQ UIN43162.

Heather Burning

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had on the potential merits of heather burning for countryside habitats.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: Defra, Natural England and stakeholders have had extensive discussions regarding heather burning as a land management tool in the uplands. Different management methods are needed on different habitats; burning is one tool that can be used where appropriate and in compliance with applicable regulations.

Conservation Areas

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of harmonising with the Council of Europe's Emerald Network of Areas of Special Conservation Interest; and if she will make a statement.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Government is currently considering the impact of leaving the EU, including future arrangements for existing legislation. This will include future arrangements for the Natura 2000 suite of sites. The aims and objectives of the Natura 2000 network, designated under the EU Nature Directives, are analogous to those of the Emerald Network, designated under the Bern Convention.

Trees: Diseases

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to assess the potential threat to chestnut trees from moth-borne diseases.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: We are committed to doing all we can to prevent plant pests and diseases reaching our borders and to build the resilience of our trees and plants. From 2012 to 2019 we will have invested more than £37 million into tree health research, including studying the interactions between horse chestnut leaf miner and other pests. Our approach, led by the Government Chief Plant Health Officer, involves the systematic, proactive screening of potential new and emerging risks, which are listed in the Plant Health Risk Register. This includes pests and diseases which can affect horse chestnut trees, such as moths like the horse chestnut leaf miner. This is listed in the Risk Register with, after current mitigations, a relative risk rating of 24 (out of a possible 125). Horse chestnut leaf miner larvae can damage horse chestnut leaves on an annual basis, causing leaves to turn brown and fall earlier than usual. However, on its own the pest does not significantly impair trees' health and affected trees will usually grow normally the following spring. Removing fallen leaves during autumn and winter and composting or covering them can help reduce damage by destroying pupae and preventing adult moths emerging the next spring.

Flood Control: Calderdale

Holly Lynch: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to policy 62 of the Calderdale Flood Action Plan, published in October 2016, for what reasons the Environment Agency will progressively review existing burning consents with regard to moorland in Calderdale.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: The Calderdale Flood Action Plan is a partnership plan and Natural England has the lead responsibility for policy 62. Natural England has a duty under the Habitat Regulations to review any consents/permissions which were issued prior to designation as a European Site. Previously there was discretion as to whether the activities covered by the consents could be tackled through incentives and/or advice rather than formally affirming, modifying or revoking the consent. This discretionary aspect has been removed and under the 2012 amendment of the Habitats Regulations 2010 (Section 23) Natural England now has the legal duty to affirm, modify or revoke any consents issued on European sites, as soon as reasonably practicable. As part of an England-wide strategy to restore blanket bog to Favourable Conservation Status, Natural England is currently reviewing all consents on blanket bog in line with the duty above (including those which permit burning) and working with landowners to put in place sustainable management and use of these sensitive areas. This will include completing the necessary programme of capital works such as grip-blocking to restore the natural hydrology of the bog and seeding/planting of peat-forming species such as cotton grasses and sphagnum mosses.

Peat Bogs

Holly Lynch: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what analysis the Environment Agency has conducted on the condition of blanket bog on moorland currently managed for grouse shooting; and the condition it believes to be optimal for slowing water flows.

Dr Thérèse Coffey: It is Natural England that has a duty under the Habitat Regulations to review any consents/permissions which were issued prior to designation as a European Site. Previously there was discretion as to whether the activities covered by the consents could be tackled through incentives and/or advice rather than formally affirming, modifying or revoking the consent. This discretionary aspect has been removed and under the 2012 amendment of the Habitats Regulations 2010 (Section 23) Natural England now has the legal duty to affirm, modify or revoke any consents issued on European sites, as soon as reasonably practicable. As part of an England-wide strategy to restore blanket bog to Favourable Conservation Status, Natural England is currently reviewing all consents on blanket bog in line with the duty above (including those which permit burning) and working with landowners to put in place sustainable management and use of these sensitive areas. This will include completing the necessary programme of capital works such as grip-blocking to restore the natural hydrology of the bog and seeding/planting of peat-forming species such as cotton grasses and sphagnum mosses. Blocking moorland grips (drainage channels) can slow overland flow and reduce the speed at which water enters rivers and streams, especially in small catchments and the upper reaches of larger ones. Recent research sponsored by Defra shows that restoring moorland habitats can slow overland flow leading to delayed and reduced peak discharge in small catchments. However, it remains difficult to demonstrate the benefits of land use change in larger catchments. Any upland land management measures introduced to help mitigate flooding need to be considered alongside a full range of other options including hard and soft engineering solutions and other floodplain management options.‎

Department for Exiting the European Union

Conditions of Employment: Pregnancy

Matthew Pennycook: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether he plans to give domestic effect to the Pregnant Workers Directive 92/85/EEC through the forthcoming Repeal Bill.

Matthew Pennycook: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether he plans to give domestic effect to Postal Workers Directive 96/71/EC through the forthcoming Repeal Bill.

Mr David Jones: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 03 November 2016 to the Questions 50819, 50820, 50821, 50822, 50823, 50824, 50825, 50826, 50827, 50828, 50829, 50830, 50831, 50832, 50833, 50867.The Government will bring forward legislation in the next session that, when enacted, will repeal the European Communities Act 1972 and ensure a functioning statute book on the day we leave the EU. This ‘Great Repeal Bill’ will end the authority of EU law and return power to the UK. The Bill will convert existing European Union law into domestic law, wherever practical.The Government will set out the content of the Bill and its implications in due course.

Royal Prerogative

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, pursuant to the Answer of 1 November 2016 to Question 49982, what the effect on the operation of the Ponsonby rule would be of the triggering of Article 50 of the Treaty on the Functions of the EU by the use of the prerogative.

Mr David Jones: The Government has consistently said it will comply with all the constitutional and legal obligations that apply to the deal that we will negotiate with the EU. However, the Government's position is that the Ponsonby Rule (as codified in the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010) is not relevant to the invocation of Article 50.

Attorney General

Attorney General: Pay

Catherine West: To ask the Attorney General, what proportion of women are employed by the Law Officers' Departments on an inner London pay structure in the following pay grades (a) Administrative Assistant, (b) Administrative Officer, (c) Executive Officer, (d) Higher Executive Officer, (e) Fast Streamer, (f) Senior Executive Officer, (g) Grade Seven, (h) Grade Six, (i) Senior Civil Service Band 1, (j) Senior Civil Service Band 1A, (k) Senior Civil Service Band 2 and (l) Senior Civil Service Band 3.

Robert Buckland: The proportion of women employed with the London pay structure against the specified grades, when compared to the total population of women employed with those grades, are:  gradeAGOCPSSFOGLDHMCPSI  (a) Administrative AssistantN/A0.0%100%N/AN/A(b) Administrative Officer,100%19.5%100%96%100%(c) Executive Officer100%25.5%100%96%75%(d) Higher Executive Officer100%22.9%100%99%N/A(e) Fast StreamerN/A0.0%N/AN/AN/A(f) Senior Executive Officer100%36.3%100%91%100%(g) Grade Seven100%22.3%100%96%40%(h) Grade Six,100%38.2%100%98%33%(i) Senior Civil Service Band 1100%16.7%100%98%N/A(j) Senior Civil Service Band 1AN/A0.0%N/A100%N/A(k) Senior Civil Service Band 2100%100%Nil100%N/A(l) Senior Civil Service Band 3100%0.0%Nil100%N/A

Ministry of Justice

Glen Parva Young Offender Institution

Alberto Costa: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the ratio of staff to young people at HMP Glen Parva in 2016; and what the adequacy of such ratios is up to 2020.

Mr Sam Gyimah: As the Justice Secretary has announced, we are investing over £100m in staffing, and will recruit an extra 2,500 prison officers to increase safety and support prisoners to reform.We will apply for planning permission to redevelop the site of HMP & YOI Glen Parva. If we successfully achieve planning permission at the site, HMP & YOI Glen Parva would close and be replaced by a new, fit for purpose, facility.

Prisoners' Release: Females

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many women were received into each prison under licence recall in the 12 months (a) prior to and (b) following the introduction of Transforming Rehabilitation.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The Government’s Transforming Rehabilitation programme included the extension of licensed supervision to those receiving sentences of under 12 months. This was brought into effect by the Offender Rehabilitation Act 2014 in February 2015. Before that, the prison into which recalled offenders were received was not recorded centrally. The number of women received into each prison under licence recall for sentences of all lengths in the 12 months since February 2015 is provided in the table below. Bronzefield 246Eastwood Park 194Foston Hall 120Holloway 108Low Newton 67New Hall 159Peterborough 159Styal 211

British Nationals Abroad: Property Rights

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2016 to Question 47485, whether member states will be bound by Article 1 of Protocol 1 of the European Convention on Human Rights, in respect of property rights, where the owner is a UK national, after the UK has left the EU.

Sir Oliver Heald: I refer the Hon member to the response to PQ 47485.

Supreme Court

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether it is her policy to introduce legislative proposals to make the UK Supreme Court the ultimate arbiter of human rights in the UK.

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether it is her policy to introduce legislative proposals to replace the Human Rights Act 1998.

Sir Oliver Heald: This Government was elected with a mandate to reform and modernise the UK human rights framework. We will set out our proposals for a Bill of Rights in due course for consultation.

Personal Independence Payment: Appeals

Phil Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many personal independence payment decisions were appealed after the mandatory reconsideration stage between April 2015 and October 2016; and how many such decisions have been accepted.

Sir Oliver Heald: Information about the number and outcomes of Social Security and Child Support appeals by benefit type, including Personal Independence Payment, is published in the Tribunal and Gender Recognition Certificate Statistics Quarterly on gov.uk

Pentonville Prison

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) staff and (b) inmates there were at HM Prison Pentonville in each of the last five years.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The information requested is published on gov.uk.

European Convention on Human Rights

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what her policy is on the UK remaining a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights.

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what her policy is on remaining a (a) signatory to the European Court of Human Rights and (b) fully participant in the court structure of that Convention.

Sir Oliver Heald: The Government has no plans to withdraw from the ECHR.

Companies: Ownership

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, by what date she expects all UK Crown Dependencies to have adopted central registers of beneficial ownership accessible to UK law enforcement.

Sir Oliver Heald: The Government has concluded agreements with all three Crown Dependencies to provide UK law enforcement and tax authorities with unrestricted and near real time access to beneficial ownership information on corporate and legal entities incorporated in these jurisdictions from a central register or similarly effective system. The Crown Dependencies have committed to ensuring these arrangements will come into effect by June 2017, once the necessary legislation is in place.There is already a significant level of cooperation between law enforcement agencies and authorities in the Crown Dependencies, and Jersey has had a central register of beneficial ownership since 1989.

Personal Independence Payment: Appeals

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of unsuccessful claims for personal independence payment were overturned on appeal in each year from 2013 to 2016 to date.

Sir Oliver Heald: The information requested is published in the Tribunals Statistics Quarterly, on gov.uk.

Emergency Services: Crimes of Violence

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps are being taken to ensure appropriate sentencing for people convicted of attacks and assaults on police and all front line emergency officers.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Offenders who assault police and other front line emergency officers rightly face more severe sentences because the victim is providing a service to the public. In all such crimes the fact that the victim is providing a service to the public is treated as an aggravating factor meaning that sentences for assaulting front line emergency officers will be more severe. In addition, there are specific offences relating to attacking police officers and prison officers acting as constables. The offence of assault on a police constable - where little or no injury is caused – is the equivalent of common assault and has a maximum penalty of 6 months’ imprisonment. Sentencing guidelines, which are issued by the independent Sentencing Council, recognise that assault on a constable is more serious than common assault because the victim was assaulted in the line of duty. There is also an offence of assault on a police officer when attempting to resist arrest which has a maximum penalty of 2 years. Where the injuries to the victim are more serious, more severe offences will be charged such as ABH and GBH, which have higher maximum penalties.

Bail Hostels

Mr David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 1 November 2016 to Question 49987, how many offenders who absconded from approved premises in each financial year since 2010-11 have (a) been re-arrested and (b) not yet been caught.

Mr David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 1 November 2016 to Question 49987, what class order of offences were committed by people who absconded in each financial year since 2010-11.

Mr Sam Gyimah: This information is not recorded centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Cabinet Office

Government Departments: Stationery

Mike Freer: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what progress he has made in reducing the cost of stationery across all government departments; and if he will take steps to promote the use of the same paper from the same supplier to reduce those costs.

Chris Skidmore: The Crown Commercial Service has put in place commercial arrangements that allow central government and the wider public service to secure the best value for money when purchasing office supplies, including stationery. The recently let CCS Crown Office Supplies framework (RM3723) is expected to save over £20m over two years.The inclusion of more than one supplier on these frameworks allows purchasing authorities to choose the most appropriate products for their needs and maintains competitiveness in pricing.

Part-time Employment

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what change there has been in the proportion of the part-time working population who earn less than £10,000 per annum in the last five years.

Chris Skidmore: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Response to PQ51529
(PDF Document, 147.68 KB)

House of Commons Commission

Parliament: Educational Visits

Chris Elmore: To ask the Rt. hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington representing the House of Commons Commission, whether the Commission plans to review the travel subsidy available for schools visiting the House.

Tom Brake: There are currently no immediate plans to review the travel subsidy for schools visiting the House. The next scheduled review is to follow after the conclusion of the boundary review (the banding of the subsidy is based on constituencies).Prior to the introduction of the subsidy 69.4% of visiting schools came from London and the South East (Band A), where in the financial year 2015/2016 this fell to 49% from that band.When deciding the current levels of transport subsidies several different factors were taken into account, which included considerations around distance and reasonable spend, as well as the overall budget available to Parliament to offer the subsidy. The overarching aim of the scheme is to encourage as many schools as possible from outside of the south east England region to attend.The levels of transport subsidies are set by the Administration Committee. The Committee agreed to raise the levels in line with transport inflation in March 2013, and continues to keep them under review in order to make the subsidy as beneficial as possible, especially to schools from further afield.

English Votes for English Laws

Lady Hermon: To ask the Rt. hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington representing the House of Commons Commission, how many hours have been spent by the staff of the House on the certification process necessitated by the English Votes for English Laws Standing Orders of the House of Commons since those orders were implemented; and if he will make a statement.

Tom Brake: The Clerk of Legislation advises Mr Speaker on EVEL as part of his normal duties. The Papers Clerk in the Journal Office assists in record-keeping and in the publication of Speaker’s certificates as part of her normal duties. It is not possible to disaggregate the time they spend on EVEL certification from other aspects of their work.In the Office of Speaker’s Counsel, as part of their ordinary duties the Counsel for Legislation advises Mr Speaker on certification of statutory instruments and one of the Deputy Counsel advises Mr Speaker on the certification of Bills. It is not possible to disaggregate the time they spend on EVEL certification from other aspects of their work, although the Deputy Counsel’s contracted hours were increased slightly on the introduction of the EVEL certification process.